Economist Podcasts Duo’s lingo: what to watch for in Trump-Xi summit
11 snips
May 13, 2026 
Alexandra Suich Bass, culture editor who covers the Venice Biennale, and Simon Rabinovitch, Beijing bureau chief and China columnist. They discuss the Trump–Xi summit and what realistic outcomes to watch. They examine Taiwan as a bargaining chip and wider security pressures. They also chart how the Biennale has been reshaped by geopolitics.
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Managed Trade Proposals To Shrink The Deficit
- Trade measures under discussion aim to engineer a more balanced relationship and reduce America's trade deficit.
- Ideas include a 'board of trade' to manage which goods face low tariffs and encourage purchases to shrink China's surplus.
China Linking Taiwan Concessions To Economic Gains
- China wants Taiwan placed on the summit agenda and links concessions on Taiwan to economic concessions.
- Beijing seeks US assurances against Taiwanese independence and reduced arms sales; US officials insist Taiwan is not negotiable.
Russia And Iran Are Secondary And Hard To Shift
- Broader security issues like Russia and Iran are on the margins but unlikely to see major shifts.
- Washington wants China to rein in Russia and press Iran; China prefers to stay diplomatically aloof and avoid entanglement.