Why does the article suggest Xi Jinping holds more leverage than Donald Trump ahead of their Beijing summit?

The article states that Beijing forced Trump to reduce tariffs from 145% to 30% by announcing sweeping export restrictions on rare earths—critical minerals essential for smartphones, electric vehicle batteries, and modern weaponry—revealing US dependence and giving China significant leverage; it also notes that Washington’s influence is weakened by the Iran conflict, depleted weapons stockpiles requiring rare earths, global energy instability, and tensions with Western allies.

How has the balance of power between Trump and Xi changed since their 2017 meeting in the Forbidden City?

According to the article, the balance has shifted markedly: whereas in 2017 Xi emphasized China’s ancient imperial glory to awe Trump, this time the focus is on 'future dominance'; experts quoted describe the upcoming summit as potentially 'one of the most lopsided' due to perceived declines in US power domestically and internationally over the past year, with Xi appearing to 'hold all the cards' ahead of the talks.

Who Holds the Cards at the Trump-Xi Summit in Beijing?

May 13, 2026

The upcoming Trump-Xi summit in Beijing faces geopolitical hurdles, with China leveraging rare earth export restrictions and oil price dynamics against US dependencies amid trade tensions and Middle East conflicts. Experts note China's leverage stems from US reliance on critical minerals.