US president departs for China for first state visit since 2017

Trump's three-day trip to Beijing puts tariffs, rare earths, and fentanyl precursors on the table, with indirect but meaningful implications for crypto markets.

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Add us on Google by Editorial Team May. 15, 2026

Donald Trump left for Beijing on Tuesday, kicking off a three-day state visit that marks the first time a sitting US president has set foot in China in nearly nine years. The visit, running from May 13 to 15, will be hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping and includes formal discussions at the Great Hall of the People plus a state banquet.

The agenda includes trade, tariffs, rare earths, fentanyl precursors, and regional security flashpoints including the Iran conflict and tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

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What’s actually on the table

China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the visit on May 11, laying out a schedule heavy on ceremony and substance in roughly equal measure. The trip follows a prior meeting between Trump and Xi in October 2025, where Trump signaled his intention to visit Beijing in 2026.

Among the key US priorities: securing Chinese cooperation on Iran, pushing for increased Chinese purchases of American goods, and expanding access to rare-earth supplies. China controls a dominant share of global rare-earth processing, the materials essential for everything from smartphones to electric vehicles to military hardware.

Fentanyl precursors are also on the docket. The US has long pressured Beijing to crack down on the chemical compounds that flow from Chinese manufacturers to illicit drug labs, primarily in Mexico.

No crypto on the agenda, but crypto will feel this anyway

No crypto-specific initiatives were reported for this visit.

Analysts suggest the visit’s outcomes may significantly affect macroeconomic conditions that influence digital assets, particularly through changes in US-China tariff policies and tech export controls.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.