AS IT HAPPENED: Trump, Xi meet in Beijing; Xi’s ominous warning over ‘most important’ issue in US-China relations; Iran ‘frighteningly close’ to having nuclear weapons; Iran negotiations on the table

In February 2025, he slapped 10 per cent duties on China imports over fentanyl; he later raised the duties and lowered them again in November 2025, when Beijing agreed to tighten controls on 13 fentanyl precursor chemicals.

The duties were eventually shot down by the US Supreme Court.

While both US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart were fairly chummy in their opening remarks, the latter has shifted tack now that the pair have gotten down to business.