U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed during talks in Beijing to expand cooperation in trade and agriculture, and also discussed the situation in the Middle East, Ukraine, and on the Korean Peninsula, according to CCTV.
The meeting took place on May 14 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing during Trump’s state visit to China. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry and Xinhua News Agency, the leaders of the two countries discussed the bilateral agenda and exchanged views on key international and regional issues, including the situation in the Middle East, the crisis in Ukraine, and the Korean Peninsula.
Xi Jinping stated that China and the U.S. should build “constructive and strategically stable relations,” and also emphasized the importance of a cautious approach to the Taiwan issue, calling it the most critical aspect of Sino-American relations. According to Xi, mishandling this issue could lead to a sharp deterioration in bilateral relations.
According to the official Chinese account of the talks, Trump expressed his readiness to work with Xi to strengthen communication and cooperation, resolve differences, and develop U.S.-China relations. He also introduced the Chinese leader to representatives of American business who had traveled to China with him.
The talks took place against the backdrop of efforts to maintain the trade truce between the U.S. and China, reached in October 2025. Topics discussed included U.S. companies’ access to the Chinese market, Chinese investment in the U.S., trade, energy, and agricultural supplies.
For Ukraine, the very fact that the Ukrainian issue was discussed at the level of U.S. and Chinese leaders is significant. Beijing retains influence over Moscow and remains one of the key external players whose stance shapes the diplomatic context surrounding the war. However, the published reports do not indicate that the parties reached any specific agreements specifically regarding Ukraine.
The situation in the Middle East was a separate topic of discussion. Against the backdrop of tensions surrounding Iran and risks to energy supplies, the U.S. is interested in China playing a more active role in mitigating risks to global trade and energy routes. Washington is also seeking economic outcomes from the meeting, including trade and investment agreements.
The U.S. administration has so far approved only one application under the new Trump Gold Card immigration program, despite earlier claims of potential revenue in the billions. This was stated by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Latnik.
The program, launched in December 2025, offers the opportunity to obtain residency in the U.S. under a scheme similar to a green card, in exchange for a $1 million investment following a security check. An additional fee of $15,000 is also required for expedited processing. At the same time, Latnik claims that hundreds of applicants are currently in the review process.
The modest current results stand in sharp contrast to the authorities’ initial expectations. Reuters notes that at the program’s launch, Latnik spoke of high interest and thousands of potential participants, as well as the potential to generate billions of dollars through the sale of such visas. AP also notes that the program was initially presented as a potential replacement for the EB-5 visa and as a tool for attracting wealthy foreigners and capital into the U.S. economy.
Thus, at this point, the program remains more of a politically significant initiative than a truly substantial source of revenue for the U.S. budget.
US President Donald Trump has published a list of initiatives on social media under the title “SAVE America Act,” in which he calls for the introduction of mandatory ID checks for voters and documentary proof of US citizenship.
Meanwhile, Congress is considering a Republican bill called the SAVE America Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act), which requires documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections and introduces stricter voter identification rules, as well as separate requirements for procedures related to absentee/mail ballots. The House of Representatives passed the bill in February, but it has not yet advanced in the Senate.
In his post, Trump also stated the need to ban mail-in voting, except in cases of illness, disability, military service, or travel. At the same time, experts point out that a complete ban on “universal” mail-in ballots is not included in the text of the bill, although such an idea has been discussed.
In addition to electoral provisions, Trump mentioned measures concerning the participation of men in women’s sports, as well as sex reassignment surgery for minors. According to his wording, such interventions should only be possible with the written consent of the parents.
These points are not related to the voting rules bill and are presented as political demands in a single list.
US President Donald Trump announced an increase in previously imposed universal import duties from 10% to 15% on goods supplied to the United States from all countries of the world.
The head of state made the announcement during a speech on trade policy and the protection of national industry. According to him, the decision is aimed at reducing the trade deficit, stimulating domestic production, and bringing jobs back to the American economy.
As Trump noted, the tariff increase will be part of a broader strategy of economic protectionism, which includes revising the terms of international trade and strengthening support for American manufacturers. The administration expects that the new measures will increase the competitiveness of domestically produced goods.
Economists warn that the increase in duties could lead to higher prices for imported goods in the US, as well as retaliatory measures from trading partners. Analysts do not rule out increased tension in world trade and additional pressure on global supply chains.
The new tariff rates are expected to come into effect after the necessary administrative procedures have been completed. Business representatives have already expressed concern about the possible increase in the cost of raw materials and components used by American companies.
Earlier, the US administration introduced a base import duty rate of 10%, explaining this by the need to protect the national economy and reduce dependence on foreign supplies.
US President Donald Trump hopes to reach an agreement on resolving Russia’s war against Ukraine by fall 2026, linking the desired timeline to the US domestic political calendar, media outlets reported, citing The New York Times.
Earlier, a more immediate deadline of “by early summer” was publicly announced. Reuters, citing The New York Times, reported that the Trump administration is increasing pressure on Kyiv in an attempt to end the war “by early summer.” The deadline “by autumn” is tied to the US midterm elections, which are scheduled for November 3, 2026.
Meanwhile, European intelligence officials commented to Reuters that they were skeptical about the possibility of reaching a lasting agreement as early as 2026 and pointed out that, in their assessment, Russia was not showing any interest in real peace, using the negotiating track to obtain economic and sanctions concessions.
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring a national state of emergency over the actions of the Cuban government, calling the situation an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to US national security and foreign policy.
According to the White House, the executive order also launches a procedure to impose additional duties on goods from countries that sell or otherwise supply oil to Cuba.
According to Reuters, the specific levels of tariffs and the list of countries in the document are not fixed – the decision involves further evaluation by specialized agencies of the United States.
Cuban authorities have publicly condemned Washington’s moves, saying that such measures could hit energy supplies and critical services on the island.
