May 16th, 2026
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The most crucial bilateral relationship in global geopolitics seems to be following a trajectory mirroring the stages of a classic grief cycle, evolving successively from denial and anger to bargaining, before potentially progressing to phases of depression and acceptance.
The historic summit of May 14 and 15, 2026, between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping marked precisely the official shift into this third stage: that of mutual concessions and pragmatic negotiations.
Unusually for a meeting of this magnitude, no major framework agreement was officially announced jointly, leaving a certain amount of mystery surrounding the « fantastic trade deals » unilaterally claimed by the White House occupant.
During his flight back to Washington, D.C., Donald Trump nevertheless shared several significant details with journalists, stating that Beijing had committed to purchasing billions of dollars’ worth of soybeans as well as more than 200 Boeing aircraft, with a long-term promise of 750 planes.
A US assessment report has corroborated these statements by confirming the official resumption of bilateral beef trade, coupled with a Chinese commitment to purchase over $10 billion worth of agricultural products and more than 400 aerospace engines designed by General Electric (GE).
In addition, the Asian power plans to significantly increase its imports of crude oil and high-tech medical devices from the United States.
The major surprise of this summit, however, lies in the total silence surrounding Washington’s favorite economic weapon, the word « tariff » never having been uttered during the meetings, an absence of direct confrontation confirmed in a neutral tone by the American president, which illustrates the temporary willingness of the two superpowers to prioritize order-book diplomacy over open trade war.
