President Donald Trump departed Beijing after a whirlwind two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trade was expecte d to be a top line item on the itinerary for the long-awaited visit, but between the expressions of admiration and vague promises of collaboration exchanged by both leaders, few details emerged about the future of the bilateral trade relationship. While they touched on many issues, from the war in Iran to the United States’ stance on Taiwan, the meetings did not yield new trade deals or an extension of the framework Trump and Xi agreed to last October, which will expire in November 2026. Taking questions aboard Air Force One, Trump made the surprising admission that neither he nor Xi raised the issue, or had any discussion, about tariffs , despite engaging in a tit-for-tat trade war defined by escalating threats of higher duties throughout 2025.…