Stung by Iran war, Trump heads to China in need of wins
US President Donald Trump is heading to China this week seeking much-needed diplomatic and economic wins after an unpopular war with Iran has weakened his standing at home and abroad. Analysts say Trump’s once bold ambition to force Beijing into sweeping concessions through tariffs and pressure has been blunted by court rulings and the political fallout from the conflict in the Middle East. Trump is due to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 14 and 15, their first face-to-face talks since the two leaders agreed to pause a bruising trade war last October. Expectations for the summit are modest, with US officials now focusing on securing limited deals on agricultural exports like soybeans, beef and a potential package involving Boeing aircraft. Beyond trade, the Iran war is expected to dominate the agenda as Washington quietly seeks China’s […]
