On the final day of his state visit to Beijing (May 15, 2026), President Trump has declared the trip a success, though the “blockbuster” business deals many expected remain largely in the shadows.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!While the President brought an unprecedented $16 trillion “CEO crew” to the table, the outcomes so far suggest a strategic “strategic stability” agreement rather than a series of immediate contracts.
The “CEO Crew” on the Ground
Trump utilized Air Force One as a mobile boardroom, flying in the heavy hitters of American industry. Notable attendees include:
- The Tech Titans: Elon Musk (Tesla), Tim Cook (Apple), and Jensen Huang (Nvidia)—who was a last-minute addition to the delegation.
- The Financiers: Larry Fink (BlackRock), Stephen Schwarzman (Blackstone), and David Solomon (Goldman Sachs).
- The Industrialists: Kelly Ortberg (Boeing) and Brian Sikes (Cargill).
High Hopes vs. Reality
Despite Trump’s claims of reaching “fantastic trade deals,” the specific details remain sparse, with several key targets still in limbo:
- The Boeing “Mega-Order”: Rumors of a record-breaking deal for 500 Boeing 737 MAX jets dominated the lead-up to the summit. As of today, no official signing has occurred, though Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg remains in talks.
- The Nvidia AI Stalemate: Jensen Huang’s presence was intended to unlock the sale of H200 AI chips. While the U.S. has eased export restrictions, Chinese domestic firms are reportedly hesitant to commit without clearer long-term regulatory certainty from Beijing.
- Agriculture & Finance: While the administration highlighted progress in agricultural exports and financial market access, no multi-billion dollar “hard” contracts have been publicized yet.
Geopolitics Overshadowing Trade
The “deal-making” energy was noticeably tempered by two major friction points:
- The Iran War: Much of the summit was dominated by U.S. pressure on China to stop purchasing Iranian oil, with Trump noting he “won’t be much more patient” on the issue.
- Taiwan Tensions: President Xi Jinping issued a stern warning regarding “clashes and conflict” over Taiwan, which analysts believe served as a cooling agent for any massive commercial breakthroughs.
The Verdict: Trump is framing the visit as a diplomatic triumph that “settled a lot of different problems.” However, for the CEOs in the room, the trip appears more about maintaining a presence in a volatile market than bringing home the immediate “big wins” seen in previous administrations.
