Which U.S. companies are part of Trump’s delegation to the Xi summit, and what is their primary objective?

More than a dozen CEOs and top executives from companies including Tesla, BlackRock, Illumina, Mastercard, Visa, Boeing, Cargill, Meta, and Coherent are accompanying Trump to the May 14–15 summit in Beijing; their primary objective is not to sign broad trade deals but to advance long-standing business priorities—such as securing regulatory approvals, market access, investment opportunities, and resolving specific operational hurdles like Meta’s mandated unwinding of its $2-billion AI startup acquisition or Tesla’s push for Chinese clearance of its Full Self-Driving system and solar equipment exports.

What does the White House mean by a 'tangible ask' for companies joining the summit delegation?

A 'tangible ask' meant that companies had to have a concrete, actionable request—such as a specific regulatory approval, export license, or policy clarification—that could result in a measurable outcome or handshake deal during or shortly after the summit; this precondition ensured participation was tied to realistic, near-term business needs rather than symbolic diplomacy, with firms viewing the summit less as a venue for formal announcements and more as a political opening to accelerate ongoing regulatory discussions in China.

US CEOs Seek China Business Gains from Trump-Xi Summit

May 12, 2026

Major US CEOs accompany Trump to China to address supply chain issues and market access, focusing on critical materials like indium, agricultural trade, and biotech regulations.

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