Full Breakdown
Trump Takes Top U.S. CEOs to Beijing for Trade, AI, and Iran Talks
5/13/2026, 12:09:04 PM
Core Event: Presidential Summit and Corporate Delegation
President Donald Trump left Washington on Tuesday for a two-day summit in Beijing, where he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. A White House official confirmed that a delegation of senior U.S. executives will travel with the president. The list includes Elon Musk (Tesla, SpaceX), Tim Cook (Apple), Larry Fink (BlackRock), Kelly Ortberg (Boeing), Stephen Schwarzman (Blackstone) and fifteen other CEOs from finance, agriculture and technology firms. The trip, postponed from early April because of the war in Iran, is scheduled for May 13-15.
Background & Context
Trump’s 2017 visit to China launched a trade war that saw tariffs exceed 100 % on many goods. Since then Beijing imposed a 125 % import tax on U.S. products in April 2025, while the United States raised its tariff on Chinese goods to 145 %. Parallel disputes involve artificial-intelligence export controls and China’s role as the world’s largest oil buyer from Iran. The administration has proposed creating a “board of investment” and a “board of trade” to institutionalize bilateral economic dialogue.
Key Figures & Groups
The delegation spans four sectors:
- Technology: Musk (Tesla/SpaceX), Cook (Apple), Jensen Huang (Nvidia – not invited), Dina Powell McCormick (Meta)
- Finance: Fink (BlackRock), Schwarzman (Blackstone), Jane Fraser (Citigroup), David Solomon (Goldman Sachs)
- Aviation & Manufacturing: Ortberg (Boeing), Larry Culp (GE Aerospace), Brian Sikes (Cargill)
- Payments & Semiconductors: Michael Miebach (Mastercard), Cristiano Amon (Qualcomm), Sanjay Mehrotra (Micron)
Data & Statistics
- Executive count: Sources report 16, 17 or 18 participants, reflecting differing definitions of “executive.”
- Boeing deal: Ortberg has hinted at a potential order of 500 737 MAX jets and additional wide-body aircraft, described as “a big number.”
- Tariffs: China’s 125 % import tax would more than double the price of a typical Boeing jet; the U.S. 145 % tariff targets Chinese consumer goods.
- Apple investment: Apple pledged a $600 billion U.S. investment to secure exemptions for iPhone production.
Why It Matters
The delegation signals Washington’s reliance on corporate influence to soften trade frictions, secure rare-earth supplies and shape AI export policy. A successful Boeing order would be the largest U.S. aircraft sale to China since 2017, while Apple’s investment underscores the political leverage of supply-chain decisions. AI discussions could affect the future of Nvidia’s H200 chip sales, a market estimated at $50 billion.
Official Statements & Responses
The White House described the trip as “an opportunity to deepen economic cooperation and address shared security concerns.” Chinese officials said the talks would cover “major issues concerning bilateral relations and world peace.” The U.S. Commerce Department reiterated that H200 chip licenses remain pending Chinese approval.
Criticism & Opposition
Policy analysts warn that using CEOs as diplomatic envoys may blur corporate and national interests, especially in sectors subject to export controls. The exclusion of Nvidia’s Jensen Huang—despite his close ties to the administration—has been cited as a signal that AI-chip negotiations remain contentious.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Executive tally: Reports vary between 16, 17 and 18 participants.
- Jensen Huang: Some outlets claim he was invited; Reuters and Bloomberg state he was not.
- Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins: Initial lists included him, later statements said he could not attend because of earnings calls; other sources later confirmed his presence.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I am very much looking forward to my trip to China, an amazing country, with a leader, President Xi, respected by all.” — Donald Trump, President of the United States
- “If invited, it would be a privilege — it would be a great honor to represent the United States and to go to China with President Trump,” — Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia
- “You’re taking over the world, Jensen,” — Donald Trump, President of the United States
What’s Next
Negotiators are expected to unveil any Boeing aircraft agreement and discuss extensions of the rare-earth truce. Parallel talks on AI export controls and the proposed trade boards will likely continue after the summit, shaping U.S.–China economic relations through 2027.
