Trump’s do-no-harm summit with Xi w/ @drdesrochers @PhelimKine, @oli_ward_1 politico.com/news/2026/09/25…

In today's @playbookdc — -- Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrives in Washington, but don't expect a grand bargain on AI -- Scott Bessent announced a new AI safety "notification mechanism," which as I scooped with @PhelimKine and @_AriHawkins yesterday, is an open channel between him and He Lifeng -- Beyond that, comments I heard for the hopes of anything more robust on AI included: "Zero chance" and "I don't know if there will ever be" a U.S.-China deal on AI -- As far as what the WH is looking for out of the visit to declare it a success? One senior WH official quipped to me, “We’re going to say that regardless."

Bessent says US, China trade truce extended by two months w/@oli_ward_1 politico.com/news/2026/09/23…

Scoop: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's proposed AI safety "notification mechanism" is simpler than that moniker suggests: It's an open channel between him and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, four people familiar told me, @PhelimKine and @_AriHawkins. politico.com/news/2026/09/22…

Businesses ‘frozen out’ of Trump’s tariff channel with China w/ @PhelimKine politico.com/news/2026/09/22…

Nvidia facing signs of resistance on Capitol Hill as AI politics take a turn. One Senate aide said Jensen Huang’s recent visits have “repeatedly been seen as tone deaf, as he’s openly dismissed or downplayed the risks of AI." @kelseybrugger @_arihawkins politico.com/news/2026/09/21…

Trump spared fishing gear and cement from his Canadian trade war. Voters may not care. W/@oli_ward_1 politico.com/news/2026/09/09…

Trump hits back at Canadian tariffs with government procurement threat dlvr.it/TVNpMC

Scooplet: Howard Lutnick is traveling to Mexico for trade talks with President Claudia Sheinbaum and other top Mexican officials, as the tariff stalemate with the United States’ other North American neighbor deepens. w/ @_AriHawkins @oli_ward_1 politico.com/news/2026/09/08…

With Canada trade on the rocks, Lutnick heads to Mexico w/@oli_ward_1 @meganmesserly politico.com/news/2026/09/08…

ICYMI: House Republicans pressed USTR Jamieson Greer this afternoon amid the ongoing trade war with Canada. Many of the Republicans were from northern border states. Rep. John James, the GOP nominee for governor in Michigan, stood up during the lunch to raise some concerns to Greer. “We’re going to continue to follow up to make sure that all sides are continuing to negotiate in good faith, because Michigan is not a pawn in these trade negotiations,” James told me, when asked about it. He added, “Canada is a very important trading partner with the United States of America and Michigan, and we have to make sure that we repair the wrongs of learning the past without cratering our future.” More w @oli_ward_1 @_AriHawkins: politico.com/news/2026/09/02…

Mamma mia! How a panic over pasta prices prompted a Trump tariff retreat. W/@oli_ward_1 politico.com/news/2026/09/01…

GOP lawmakers seek answers from Trump trade chief on Canada tariffs (w/@Reporter_Mia, @_AriHawkins) politico.com/news/2026/09/02…

When asked about our report on @CNBC today, Commerce Secretary Lutnick called it "exactly right," confirming a fresh round of chip tariffs we scooped last week.

Trump says he'll draft "legal documents" to allow ranchers to process their own meat - as he tries to quell industry backlash to his latest beef import plan But lingering question is: How much can the White House change without regulatory/congressional action? More ⤵️

Another potential headache for US data centers — Trump tariffs w/ @__gabbymiller politico.com/news/2026/08/27…

Scoop: The Trump admin is weighing a new round of tariffs on semiconductors that could dramatically expand the number of tech products subject to the duties — despite warnings that the move could doom the AI data center buildout. w/ @_AriHawkins politico.com/news/2026/08/27…

Excellent reporting by the Politico team (Daniel Desrochers, Megan Messerly, Nick Taylor-Vaisey, Ari Hawkins and Oliver Ward) on the apparent collapse of negotiations between the US and Canada 1/

Things fall apart. politico.com/news/2026/08/22…

Trade talks between the U.S. and Canada fell apart just before midnight on Friday. 50 percent tariffs on $20 billion of Canadian goods are now in effect, hitting products ranging from alcohol to hockey skates, @drdesrochers and @_AriHawkins report. politico.com/news/2026/08/22…