Xi Jinping heads to Washington to revive a $6B US liquefied natural gas trade

Xi Jinping is scheduled to arrive in Washington on September 24, 2026, for the first state visit by a Chinese leader in more than ten years. The ceremonial trappings, official receptions, a state dinner hosted by President Donald Trump, are the backdrop. The real business is energy. How a tariff turned off the tap The story starts in February 2025, when Beijing imposed a 15% tariff on US liquefied natural gas in direct retaliation for American tariffs on Chinese imports. The effect was immediate and total. US LNG shipments to China fell from 64 vessels in 2024 to zero in 2025. Chinese imports of US LNG were valued at $6.2 billion in 2021, before the retaliatory measures began stacking up. The core question heading into this week’s talks is whether Beijing will reduce or eliminate that 15% levy. No official confirmation has come from either government, and both sides have been careful to frame expectations loosely. A tentative negotiating framework is reportedly in place, centered on a reciprocal tariff reduction package worth roughly $30 billion across goods from both countries. Agricultural products are part of the conversation. Supply is growing whether China buys or not US LNG e...