President Donald Trump is set to land in Beijing this April, and despite the predictable pearl-clutching from the foreign-policy talking heads, there’s a growing sense that this trip might actually produce something real – not just photo ops and handshakes.
For starters, both sides want a deal. Trump wants a win he can point to back home – something tangible, like expanded U.S. farm exports, fewer fentanyl precursors pouring into the U.S., and better trade deals. Xi wants economic stability, restored trade flows, and fewer Washington-driven tech chokeholds. That’s the magic overlap where deals are born.
And believe it or not, the early signals look surprisingly productive. China is already hinting at opening the soybean spigot again. Trump is signaling openness to “reciprocal” arrangements on trade barriers. Both are talking about cooperation on drug-control measures.
Sure, the geopolitical rivalry isn’t going anywhere, but the mood music suggests a thaw. If anything, Trump’s unpredictable negotiation style – the same one critics mocked for years – might actually give him leverage. Beijing doesn’t know what he’ll ask for, and that alone creates opportunity.
If April goes well, this could be one of those rare moments when both giants walk away with something: economic breathing room, lowered tensions, and a blueprint for keeping their competition from boiling over.
For once, the world might get a headline that reads less like a crisis alert and more like a win. However, I’m sure the Left will still find plenty to complain about. Trump is president, after all, and wanting America to be great is never in the cards for the Democrats.