‘Two strongmen in the playground’: What to watch when Trump meets Xi

by · Australian Financial Review

Jessica GardnerUnited States correspondent
Sep 20, 2026 – 11.20am

When Donald Trump and Xi Jinping meet this week, their long list of lingering frictions – from trade disputes to the perennial flashpoint of Taiwan and the still smouldering war in Iran – could easily derail the summit.

Yet both leaders approach their second meeting of the year with so much domestic political and economic baggage that their top priority will be to not rock the boat.

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Jessica GardnerUnited States correspondentJessica Gardner is The Australian Financial Review’s United States correspondent. She was previously deputy editor - news. Connect with Jessica on Twitter. Email Jessica at jgardner@afr.com

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