Trump, Xi Fail To Reach Major Deal As Tariff, Rare Earth Tensions Continue

A high-stakes summit between United States President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping ended without major breakthroughs on tariffs and rare earth exports, leaving key disputes between the world’s two largest economies unresolved despite renewed diplomatic engagement.

The meeting, held in Beijing, came amid ongoing tensions over trade, technology, and supply chains that have strained relations between Washington and Beijing for years.

Although both leaders projected optimism and pledged to maintain dialogue, the summit produced few concrete commitments, disappointing many investors and global business leaders who had hoped for a broader easing of trade restrictions.

Trump’s trade policies toward China remain one of the central sticking points in the relationship. During his first term, the US president imposed sweeping tariffs on Chinese imports and encouraged American companies to relocate manufacturing operations away from China.

While tariff levels have fallen from the triple-digit figures briefly reached last year, duties on Chinese goods entering the United States still stand at nearly 48 per cent, according to Chad Bown of the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Both countries had reached a temporary truce in October last year under which Washington agreed to reduce some tariffs while Beijing maintained exports of critical rare earth materials to the United States. However, that agreement is due to expire in November.

Speaking after the summit, Trump revealed that tariff issues were not directly discussed during his conversations with Xi, raising uncertainty over whether the current arrangement would be extended.

“We did not discuss tariffs,” Trump told reporters.

Foreign policy analysts say extending the truce would have been the minimum achievement expected from the summit.

Patricia Kim, a foreign policy fellow at the Brookings Institution, described any extension of the agreement as “the most basic benchmark” for measuring the success of the meeting.

One of the most contentious unresolved issues remains China’s restrictions on rare earth exports.

Beijing imposed export controls on rare earth materials in response to Trump’s aggressive tariff measures introduced in April 2025. The restrictions have since disrupted supply chains for major American industries, including semiconductor manufacturers and aerospace companies.

United States President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping

Rare earth elements are essential for the production of advanced technologies such as electric vehicles, semiconductors, radar systems, submarines, Tomahawk missiles, and F-35 fighter jets.

China currently dominates the global market, accounting for approximately 90 per cent of the world’s processed rare earths and magnets.

Analysts say Beijing’s ability to control supplies has become a major strategic advantage in its rivalry with Washington.

While the United States has accelerated efforts to build domestic rare earth supply chains, industry experts note that the country still lacks sufficient capacity to process and separate heavy rare earth materials independently.

The summit also failed to deliver major gains for leading American corporations that accompanied Trump to Beijing.

The US president arrived with a powerful delegation of business executives, including Tim Cook of Apple, Jensen Huang of Nvidia, Kelly Ortberg of Boeing and Elon Musk of Tesla.

However, expected business deals either failed to materialise or fell short of expectations.

Boeing shares dropped sharply after Trump announced that China would purchase 200 Boeing aircraft — significantly below earlier expectations of about 500 planes. Trump later stated that China could potentially buy as many as 750 aircraft in the future, but no binding agreement was announced.

The lack of clarity unsettled investors, with Boeing stock falling further in pre-market trading on Friday.

There was also no breakthrough regarding the sale of Nvidia’s advanced H200 artificial intelligence chips to China, despite Huang’s participation in the summit discussions.

US officials disclosed that both countries agreed on deals involving American agricultural exports and made progress on mechanisms aimed at managing future trade relations. According to officials, both sides are expected to identify up to $30 billion worth of non-sensitive goods for trade cooperation.

Trump also suggested that China could increase purchases of American oil. US Energy Secretary officials claimed Beijing had expressed interest in buying more US crude oil, although Chinese authorities did not publicly confirm any agreement or provide figures.

Business leaders remain cautious despite the renewed diplomatic engagement.

A senior American executive based in China told the Financial Times that while broader trade cooperation would be welcomed, companies still require “clarity” on timelines, tariffs, and the unresolved rare earth dispute.

Xi, meanwhile, sought to reassure foreign investors by declaring that China’s market would continue opening to international businesses.

“China’s door to business will only open wider and wider,” the Chinese president said during meetings with American executives.

Despite the optimistic rhetoric, the summit ended with few tangible outcomes, underscoring the deep economic and strategic divisions that continue to define US-China relations.

Trump, Xi Fail To Reach Major Deal As Tariff, Rare Earth Tensions Continue

UK Health Minister Wes Streeting Resigns

British Health Secretary Wes Streeting has resigned from the Cabinet, triggering a major political shake-up in the UK government and intensifying pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer amid growing unrest within the Labour Party.

In a strongly worded resignation letter published on X, Streeting said it had become increasingly clear that Starmer would not lead Labour into the next general election. He argued that the party was now facing a “leadership vacuum” and insisted that Labour MPs and trade unions were demanding an open and urgent debate about the party’s future direction.

Streeting said remaining in government under the current leadership situation would be “dishonourable and unprincipled,” adding that the party urgently needs a “battle of ideas” involving strong candidates capable of rebuilding public confidence. While he stopped short of announcing a leadership bid, his comments are widely seen as a direct challenge to Starmer’s authority.

The resignation comes at a time of escalating internal tension within the Labour Party, following a series of disappointing electoral performances across the United Kingdom. In the May 7 local elections, Labour suffered significant losses, including more than 1,400 council seats and control of dozens of local authorities in England. The party also faced historic setbacks in Wales and further declines in Scotland.

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At the same time, the rise of Reform UK has reshaped the political landscape, with the party gaining hundreds of council seats and taking control of several traditional Labour strongholds, particularly in northern and central England.

The developments have fuelled speculation over a possible Labour leadership contest. Former deputy leader Angela Rayner has been mentioned as a potential successor, although she has publicly stated she will not initiate a challenge. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is also frequently cited in political discussions, though he is not currently a Member of Parliament, making any immediate leadership move difficult.

Despite the growing unrest, most Cabinet members and over 100 Labour MPs have publicly reaffirmed their support for Starmer. Downing Street has also insisted that the Prime Minister has no intention of resigning.

However, political analysts warn that Streeting’s resignation could mark the beginning of a wider internal struggle that may reshape Labour’s leadership structure if further resignations or open challenges follow.

For now, Starmer remains in office, but the pressure inside the Labour Party continues to build as questions over its direction and leadership grow louder.

UK Health Minister Wes Streeting Resigns

US Congressman Pushes Bill Requiring Religious Immigrants to Reject Sharia Law

A United States congressman, Barry Moore, has sparked nationwide debate after proposing a bill that would require immigrants entering America as religious workers to formally reject Sharia law and pledge loyalty to the US Constitution.

Moore announced the proposed legislation, known as the CRUSADE Act — short for Countering Radicalism Under Sharia and Defeating Extremism Act — in a statement posted on X and published on his official congressional website.

According to the Republican lawmaker, the bill is designed to prevent the promotion of religious doctrines that he believes conflict with American constitutional values.

“America is built on the rule of law and the supremacy of the Constitution — not foreign legal systems that conflict with our freedoms and values,” Moore said while unveiling the legislation.

The proposal specifically targets immigrants applying through the EB-4 religious worker visa programme, which allows ministers, missionaries and other faith-based workers to enter the United States.

Under the proposed law, applicants would be required to affirm support for the US Constitution and disavow interpretations of Sharia law that Moore claims promote religious persecution, restrictions on women and suppression of dissent.

“Anyone seeking entry into the United States as a religious worker must affirm their commitment to the Constitution and reject extremist practices found in sharia law that have been used to justify persecution, violence, and the suppression of basic human rights,” he added.

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The bill has already received backing from several Republican lawmakers, including Andy Ogles, Josh Brecheen and Clay Higgins.

The development comes amid growing political campaigns around the “Sharia-Free America” movement in the United States. Supporters argue that political Islam and Sharia-based governance are incompatible with the American legal system, while critics warn that such measures could stigmatise Muslims and undermine constitutional protections for religious freedom.

The First Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, making the proposal likely to face legal and political scrutiny if it advances in Congress.

The controversy has also renewed international attention on Nigeria’s religious freedom concerns.

Earlier this year, Republican lawmakers Riley Moore and Chris Smith introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, a bill seeking stronger US action against alleged religious persecution in Nigeria.

The legislation calls for investigations into violence against Christians, enforcement of anti-blasphemy laws and the implementation of Sharia-based legal systems in northern Nigeria.

The lawmakers argued that some blasphemy laws in northern Nigeria have been used to silence dissent, target minorities and deny due process.

Nigeria currently operates Sharia legal systems in 12 northern states alongside conventional constitutional law, mainly for civil matters involving Muslims, although some states also apply criminal Sharia provisions.

The renewed debate follows the decision by President Donald Trump’s administration to redesignate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over allegations of religious persecution and sectarian violence.

Security concerns linked to extremist groups such as Boko Haram and armed bandit networks have continued to fuel international scrutiny of religious tensions in parts of the country.

US Congressman Pushes Bill Requiring Religious Immigrants to Reject Sharia Law