Are we headed toward a US-China trade showdown?

With US President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing less than two weeks away, Josh and Jessie sit down with the Wall Street Journal’s chief China correspondent, Lingling Wei, to break down what issues will shape the agenda: from the Iran war to Washington’s push for “rules of origin,” which could fundamentally reshape trade relations. They also dig into the backroom drama of past high-level visits, including shouting matches and fistfights.

Listen to The Guide to the Global Economy wherever you get podcasts

Guide to the Global Economy is your go-to podcast for navigating the increasingly busy intersection of global economics, finance, national security, and geopolitics. Through interviews with leading experts and behind-the-scenes insights from the Atlantic Council’s GeoEconomics Center, we break down the storylines that matter most for the global economy—from major news everyone’s talking about to developments few have noticed. These days, if you don’t get economics, you don’t get Washington. From tariffs to crypto to sanctions and beyond, our team is here to guide you. Watch and listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Guide to the Global Economy Podcast

These days, if you don’t get economics, you don’t get Washington. From tariffs to crypto to sanctions and beyond, our team is here to guide you. Watch and listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Dispatches Apr 14, 2026

What the Taiwanese opposition leader’s recent China visit means for Taipei, Beijing, and Washington

By Wen-Ti Sung

Cheng Li-wun recently visited Beijing and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the first time a Kuomintang chair has traveled to China in a decade.

China Maritime Security

Dispatches Mar 31, 2026

Five takeaways for US policymakers about China’s new five-year development plan

By Melanie Hart, Caroline Costello, Samantha Wong

Chinese leaders are much more focused on their nation’s strengths than its weaknesses, and they are feeling bullish about the future.

Artificial Intelligence China

Mar 12, 2025

Trump Tariff Tracker

The second Trump administration has embarked on a novel and aggressive tariff policy to address a range of economic and national security concerns. This tracker monitors the evolution of these tariffs and provides expert context on the economic conditions driving their creation—along with their real-world impact.

At the intersection of economics, finance, and foreign policy, the GeoEconomics Center is a translation hub with the goal of helping shape a better global economic future.

Learn more

Related Experts: Josh Lipsky and Jessie Yin

Image: US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping stand next to each other, as they hold a bilateral meeting at Gimhae International Airport, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Busan, South Korea, October 30, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein