US President Donald Trump is heading to China this week with a delegation of top tech executives, including outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The trip aims to foster technology discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping, though the agenda may also address the ongoing conflict in Iran.
Other attendees include Meta's newly appointed president Dina Powell McCormick, Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra, Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins, and Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, according to a White House official. Notably absent is Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who has criticised US restrictions on chip sales to China. A major semiconductor deal appears less likely without the world's most important chip maker, though an announcement from Micron is possible.
Trump's guest list reflects a strategy to showcase American innovation while emulating China's stricter approach to artificial intelligence. China requires AI companies to submit models for government review on security and political sensitivity grounds. Similarly, the White House is considering an executive order mandating AI companies to submit new models for review. The administration has already secured deals with Google DeepMind, Microsoft and xAI for national security reviews through the Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI).
Tim Cook's presence highlights Apple's reliance on China, where the iPhone 17 has boosted earnings. Apple still manufactures most products in China, though it has shifted some operations to India and Vietnam. Cook's diplomatic skills were noted in his retirement announcement, suggesting such visits may become routine.
Whether the trip will yield a flurry of tech deals, as seen after Trump's Middle East visit in May 2025, remains to be seen. Meanwhile, the Pentagon's legal dispute with Anthropic continues over military use of its AI models, and Vice President JD Vance has reportedly asked Anthropic to limit access to its cybersecurity-focused model Mythos.
