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THE scheduled summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing has been postponed, casting a temporary shadow over a relationship that has remained stable since the leaders last met in October.
Analysts, however, suggest that the delay is unlikely to cause major long-term damage to bilateral ties.
Reuters, on Tuesday, reported that Trump’s decision reflects the disruption caused by the ongoing Iran conflict, which has complicated his foreign policy agenda and added another layer to existing trade and Taiwan-related tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
The postponement occurs just after both sides concluded high-level trade negotiations in Paris, aimed at laying the groundwork for Trump’s Beijing visit, originally slated for the end of March.
The talks followed U.S. investigations into “unfair trade practices” designed to maintain global trade pressure, following the Supreme Court’s recent overturning of Trump’s global tariffs.
“The situation is not in jeopardy, and Beijing still wants to organise the summit, but the U.S.-Iran conflict and the Supreme Court ruling on tariff policies have complicated these efforts,” said Zhao Minghao, an international relations expert at Shanghai’s Fudan University.
“It makes U.S.-China interactions this year more difficult because of Trump’s ‘war of choice’ in Iran.”
Zhao added that the delay provides additional time for trade measures.
“The White House says it will continue its tariff policy, but without a doubt, we could see new uncertainties in this regard that impact Beijing’s calculations on dealing with the U.S.,” he said.
Sources familiar with the Paris talks indicated that China showed openness to additional purchases of U.S. agricultural goods, including poultry, beef, and non-soybean crops.
The discussions also addressed the flow of rare earth minerals largely controlled by China, and new frameworks for managing trade and investment between the two nations.
State-run China Daily described the Paris negotiations as “constructive” but cautioned Trump that Beijing’s “openness should not be mistaken for acquiescence.”
An editorial stressed that U.S. actions that inject uncertainty—through tariffs, restrictive measures, or unilateral investigations—undermine stable China-U.S. economic relations.
“The fluctuations in plans are not ideal from China’s perspective,” noted Alfred Wu of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. “China actually wants something more predictable.”
U.S. officials have offered mixed explanations for the delay. Trump told the Financial Times he might postpone the summit if China did not assist in unblocking the Strait of Hormuz, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the trip could be delayed due to coordination of U.S. military efforts in Iran, rather than any trade-related issues.
Despite the postponement, both sides remain focused on maintaining steady relations and preparing for a successful visit.
Analysts highlight that for China, an export-reliant economy, mitigating global economic uncertainty remains the top priority.
“China’s first priority remains keeping the relationship with the United States relatively steady so it can continue focusing on self-strengthening in preparation for longer-term strategic competition,” said Patricia Kim, a Brookings Institution fellow.
She noted that while China intends to host Trump, it may avoid an overly grand reception amid ongoing U.S. military operations in Iran, a strategic partner for Beijing.
Neil Thomas of the Asia Society added, “Trump is preoccupied with a war in Iran that has not been resolved as quickly as predicted, so he is keen to ensure that the military and economic fallout from that is contained within the next couple of weeks… which makes planning a successful Beijing visit almost impossible.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian confirmed ongoing communications regarding the summit’s timing, emphasising that “diplomacy between heads of state plays an irreplaceable role in providing strategic guidance to China-U.S. relations.”
The postponement underscores the delicate balancing act facing both Beijing and Washington, as trade, security, and regional conflicts converge to influence the trajectory of one of the world’s most consequential bilateral relationships. - March 17, 2026