As US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping prepare to meet this week, experts say China holds the advantage. The US is bogged down in Middle East conflicts, and Trump's approval rating is plummeting, making him desperate for a win.

Trade between the world's two largest economies has been severely disrupted since Trump returned to office, imposing tariffs as high as 145% on Chinese goods. Beijing retaliated with its own tariffs and halted rare earth exports, essential for industries like cars and smartphones.

According to Chad Bown of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, US imports from China fell over 25%, and exports dropped by a similar margin. Without the trade wars, US exports to China would have been nearly 60% higher in 2025.

China has diversified its trade, reaching a record $1.2 trillion surplus last year. Dexter Tiff Roberts of the Atlantic Council notes that China has reduced its reliance on the US by boosting business with other regions.

Experts believe China has the upper hand due to its energy security via Central Asian pipelines and lack of involvement in foreign wars. Trump's approval rating stands at 34%, and he needs a diplomatic victory ahead of the November midterms.

China seeks access to high-tech chips and concessions on Taiwan, while the US wants Chinese help to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and commitments to purchase soybeans, Boeing aircraft, and energy supplies.

Source: www.aljazeera.com