On the Dash:
- Trump hosts Xi today as the U.S.-China trade truce nears its Nov. 10 expiration.
- Six auto trade groups, including dealers, urged Trump to keep Chinese automakers out of the U.S.
- Ford halted Explorer production in Chicago for a week amid magnet shortages after China’s export controls.
President Donald Trump meets Chinese President Xi Jinping today as auto groups urge limits on Chinese automakers. It’s Xi’s first White House visit in more than a decade. Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, arrived Wednesday evening at Joint Base Andrews, according to the White House.
Thursday’s schedule opens with a State Arrival Ceremony featuring 479 military personnel. Bilateral talks follow, and a state dinner is set for this evening, with the visit planned to conclude Friday.
Trade truce and rare earths return to the table
The trade truce between the U.S. and China expires Nov. 10. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in New York over the weekend and again Wednesday. Rare earths were on the table in the weekend talks. Bessent said the U.S. is open to continuing the truce or examining a bigger deal.
Last year, China implemented export controls on seven rare earth elements, requiring companies to obtain government approval before exporting. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, China supplied over 70% of the world’s rare earths in 2024, with its refining and production share exceeding 87%.
According to S&P Global, rare earth magnets are essential for electric vehicle motors. Following recent controls, Ford paused Explorer production in Chicago for a week due to magnet shortages. Similarly, Japanese and European auto suppliers shut down production lines while awaiting materials. Foreign Policy reported that Chinese shipments of rare earth magnets to the U.S. decreased again in August.
Auto groups press Trump on Chinese automakers
No Chinese-brand vehicles are sold in the U.S. today, but Trump is open to Chinese automakers building U.S. plants, he told Fox News earlier this month.
Six auto trade groups urged Trump in a Sept. 17 letter to keep Chinese automakers out of the U.S. The signers include the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA). The groups also represent automakers and parts suppliers.
More than two dozen Democratic lawmakers urged Trump in a separate letter to keep restrictions in place. Bipartisan bills to ban Chinese automakers from the U.S. are moving through Congress. The issue is whether the U.S. keeps a manufacturing base that can pivot when needed, Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., told reporters Wednesday.
Xi’s delegation reportedly could include Wang Chuanfu, founder of BYD, and Robin Zeng, founder of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL). General Motors CEO Mary Barra is also expected to attend the state dinner, Reuters reported. Ford declined to say whether CEO Jim Farley will attend. Meanwhile, Stellantis said CEO Antonio Filosa is out of the country and does not plan to attend.
Allies, Taiwan and chips round out the agenda
Strains with U.S. allies could complicate pressure on China, said Ryan Hass, director of the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution. Fewer countries are willing to follow Washington’s lead, he said.
A $14 billion U.S. arms package for Taiwan has awaited Trump’s approval for months. Trump said in May, after meeting Xi in Beijing, that he was holding the package in abeyance. Iran and artificial intelligence are also expected on the agenda, ABC News reported.
Trump has allowed limited sales of Nvidia H200 artificial intelligence chips to China while broader restrictions remain in place.
