Congress Will Hold Hearings Ahead of Xi Visit

Lawmakers are addressing human rights and trade before the scheduled summit between Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump.

Updated on Sept. 18, 2026 in International Relations

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of the United States Capitol dome in navy and cream, evoking institutional political policy. — Lawmakers held congressional hearings this week to prioritize human rights and trade concerns ahead of President Donald Trump's September 24 summit with Xi Jinping. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should the US prioritize human rights over commercial interests in its foreign policy toward China?

U.S. lawmakers held a series of hearings on Capitol Hill this week regarding China ahead of a planned summit between President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping on September 24, 2026. The congressional actions aim to elevate human rights and trade concerns on the agenda for the upcoming diplomatic meetings.

Why it matters

Lawmakers are working to ensure that human rights and trade disputes remain central to the bilateral talks. Critics contend the Trump administration has previously prioritized economic gains over these critical political issues.

Congress passed a sanctions bill authorizing tariffs of up to 100 percent on major buyers of Russian energy. Additionally, Jimmy Lai is serving a 20-year sentence under the national security law.

The players

Donald Trump

Donald Trump is the current President of the United States.

Xi Jinping

Xi Jinping is the President of China.

Nancy Pelosi

Nancy Pelosi is a member of the United States House of Representatives and former Speaker of the House.

Jimmy Lai

Jimmy Lai is a publisher and activist who was sentenced to 20 years in prison under national security laws.

Scott Bessent

Scott Bessent is the United States Treasury Secretary.

The details

Committees including the House Select Committee on China and the Congressional-Executive Commission on China scrutinized human rights, supply chains, and foreign influence. Separately, the detention of Min Zin in June on espionage charges continues to be a point of congressional interest.

June 2026: Min Zin was detained in China on suspicion of espionage.
September 24, 2026: President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are expected to meet in Washington.
Next Tuesday: The CECC will hold a hearing on political prisoners.

Political Context

Opponents of the current administration argue that prior diplomatic engagements have not sufficiently addressed the political and human rights challenges posed by China. They contend that a focus on transactional economic deals, rather than systemic policy reform, undermines long-term U.S. interests.

The new sanctions on Russian energy buyers could affect global energy markets and domestic fuel prices. Additionally, shifts in trade policy regarding China may impact the cost of consumer goods for American households.

The takeaway

Congressional scrutiny continues to shape the agenda for executive-level diplomatic summits. Readers should monitor upcoming tariff implementations and bilateral talks for potential impacts on trade and foreign policy.