Trump's Beijing trip shows the US needs deals more than China does, which is bad for American negotiating leverage and good for Beijing.

• Trump wants big Boeing orders, farm purchases, energy deals, and Chinese investment to stabilize the US economy, but China is playing for time.
• China keeps dangling farm and oil purchases without committing — beef permits got renewed, but the value is tiny compared to soybeans and gas.
• Beijing warned Washington against pushing toward war over Taiwan, arguing China can simply wait since its economy and tech keep growing.
• The US wants Chinese money but blocks Chinese carmakers and chipmakers from sensitive industries, which makes the offer unattractive to Beijing.
• Nvidia's Jensen Huang flew over hoping for a chip deal and walked away with nothing concrete, while Chinese rivals like Huawei keep gaining ground.
• US unemployment expectations hit a 12-month high, adding pressure on Washington to land deals fast.

Outlook: Both sides are buying time — expect more small announcements but no real breakthrough on tech, tariffs, or Taiwan.