How to Win a Summit: China’s Economic and Commercial Leverage

How to Win a Summit: China’s Economic and Commercial Leverage

From Pekingology by Center for Strategic and International Studies

May 14, 2026 · 44 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the economic and commercial context for the summit between President Trump and President Xi, focusing on trade dynamics and U.S.-China relations.

In this episode of Pekingology, CSIS Senior Fellow Henrietta Levin is joined by Philip Luck, Director of the CSIS Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business. Phil was previously the deputy chief economist at the U.S. Department of State. Phil and Henrietta discuss the economic and commercial context for the big summit between President Trump and President Xi in Beijing, what it means to have “managed trade,” the trajectory of U.S. tariff rates and export controls, and how soybeans may shape the future of U.S.-China relations. Tune in tomorrow (May 15) for a special bonus episode unpacking the outcomes from President Trump's visit to China, featuring Jon Czin, fellow at the Brookings Institution and former Director for China at the White House National Security Council.

People in this episode

Host: Henrietta Levin

Guest: Philip Luck

Topics covered

  • U.S.-China relations
  • economic leverage
  • managed trade
  • tariff rates
  • export controls
  • soybeans

Keywords

  • China
  • U.S.
  • trade
  • tariffs
  • soybeans
  • economics
  • summit

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: CSIS, U.S. Department of State, Brookings Institution

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