‘Hostile, but hooked’: What’s behind the US-China trade truce extension?

President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping during his state visit to Washington, the first Chinese leader to visit the US in 11 years. Despite the extension of the trade truce, the US and China remain locked in a deeper strategic rivalry over AI, rare-earth metals, Taiwan, and Iran. The trade war, initiated in 2025 with tariffs and export restrictions, was paused during a summit in October 2025, but tensions continue.