BY COMFORT OGBONNA
A group of some of America’s most influential business leaders is set to accompany U.S. President Donald Trump on his upcoming visit to China, underscoring growing efforts by both countries to strengthen commercial ties and ease tensions after years of trade disputes.
Among the executives expected to participate are Elon Musk, Tim Cook, GE Aerospace chief Larry Culp, and Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg. The trip is also expected to include top figures from major financial and technology companies, including Meta executive Dina Powell McCormick, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Blackstone Chairman Stephen Schwarzman, Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra, Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, and Visa CEO Ryan McInerney.
The large corporate presence highlights the economic importance of the summit at a time when Washington and Beijing are trying to stabilize relations and revive business cooperation. Several American companies are seeking improved access to the Chinese market after years of tariffs, export restrictions, and political friction between the world’s two largest economies.
People familiar with the matter said the United States and China are expected to establish new forums aimed at encouraging trade and investment between both nations. China is also widely expected to announce major purchases involving Boeing aircraft, U.S. agricultural goods, and American energy products during the visit. Such announcements have historically been used by both governments to showcase economic cooperation and reduce tensions during high-level meetings.
Additional executives joining the delegation include Cargill CEO Brian Sikes, Coherent CEO Jim Anderson, and Illumina CEO Jacob Thaysen. Their participation reflects the broad range of industries hoping to benefit from renewed engagement between Washington and Beijing, including technology, finance, manufacturing, agriculture, and healthcare.
One of the biggest areas of focus during the summit is likely to be aviation. Boeing has been working for years to rebuild its relationship with China, one of the world’s largest aviation markets. Industry sources say the U.S. planemaker and Chinese officials have been discussing a potential agreement involving as many as 500 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, along with dozens of widebody jets powered by GE Aerospace engines. If finalized, the deal could become the largest aircraft order ever recorded and would mark China’s first major Boeing purchase since 2017.
The possible agreement would represent a significant boost for Boeing, which has faced years of challenges ranging from safety concerns surrounding the 737 MAX to supply chain disruptions and weaker international demand during the pandemic years. A successful deal would also provide political momentum for both Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping as they attempt to present the summit as a turning point in U.S.-China economic relations.
Trade issues are also expected to dominate discussions. Officials from both countries are reportedly considering an extension of the current trade truce that has allowed rare earth minerals to continue flowing from China to the United States. Rare earth materials are essential for manufacturing electronics, electric vehicles, military equipment, and advanced technologies, making them strategically important to both economies.
The Trump administration has increasingly focused on securing supply chains for critical materials while also encouraging American exports to China. Analysts say the outcome of the talks could influence global markets, especially sectors tied to technology, aerospace, and energy.
Notably absent from the trip will be Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Sources familiar with the matter said Huang was not invited to participate, as the White House chose to prioritize executives connected to aviation, agriculture, and broader commercial industries for the current visit. Nvidia has remained at the center of ongoing U.S.-China tensions over advanced artificial intelligence technology and semiconductor exports.
Despite Huang’s absence, relations between the Trump administration and Nvidia have reportedly improved in recent months. Trump previously approved the export of Nvidia’s H200 AI chips to China, although sales have reportedly faced delays due to regulatory approval processes within China. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said earlier this year that Chinese companies were still seeking permission from Beijing to purchase the chips.
The upcoming summit comes months after Trump and Xi last met in South Korea, where both leaders agreed to pause an escalating trade war that had shaken global markets. That dispute saw the United States impose steep tariffs on Chinese imports while Beijing threatened restrictions on rare earth exports and other strategic materials.
Investors and global business leaders are now closely watching the China visit for signs that the two countries may be entering a more stable phase of economic cooperation. Any major agreements announced during the trip could have far-reaching implications for global trade, financial markets, and international supply chains.
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