AI and trade: Will US and China agree?

Pippa (0:00)

From BBC Learning English, this is Learning English from the News, our podcast about the news headlines.

Becca (0:07)

In this programme, the leaders of the USA and China are meeting this week, but what will they discuss?

Pippa (0:18)

Hello, I'm Pippa.

Becca (0:19)

And I'm Becca.

Pippa (0:20)

In this programme, we look at one big news story and the vocabulary in the headlines that will help you understand it.

Becca (0:27)

You can find all the vocabulary and headlines from this episode, as well as a worksheet on our website, bbclearningenglish.com.

Pippa (0:36)

So, Becca, let's hear more about this story.

Becca (0:44)

US President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping will meet in a summit at the White House this week.

Pippa (0:51)

President Xi is visiting the US for the first time since 2023, following on from President Trump's visit to China earlier this year.

Becca (1:00)

A truce between the two countries on trade tariffs is set to expire in November. A truce is an interruption in an argument or an agreement to stop arguing for a period of time.

Pippa (1:13)

Alongside trade, there are other potential disagreements between the two leaders, for example, over AI and the war in Iran.

Becca (1:20)

Let's have our first headline. This headline is from CNBC, an American news organization.

Trump, Xi seek trade stability and deals, but AI, tariffs and Iran loom large. What to watch?

Pippa (1:36)

That headline again from CNBC.

Trump, Xi seek trade stability and deals, but AI, tariffs and Iran loom large. What to watch?

Becca (1:46)

This headline mentions some of the things that might be discussed at the meeting between Trump and Xi.

We're looking at the expression loom large. What can you tell us about it, Pippa?

Pippa (1:57)

Well, if something looms large, it's a very important, often worrying issue.

Becca (2:02)

Yes. In this story, there are lots of disagreements between China and the US.

And these issues loom large in the discussions between the two countries.

They are important and potentially worrying because reaching agreement might be difficult according to the headline.

Pippa (2:19)

We often see loom large used to talk about official contexts such as meetings and negotiations. For example, at the all-staff meeting, the company's poor financial performance loomed large.

Becca (2:31)

And we can use loom large in more personal contexts too. For example, my friend's worried about her parents getting older. Their poor health looms large for her.

Pippa (2:42)

We always use loom large to talk about potentially negative or concerning issues. We don't use it to talk about important but positive factors.

Becca (2:54)

We've had loom large be a very important, often worrying issue.

Pippa (3:03)

For example, the impact of social media on kids looms large for many parents.

Becca (3:12)

This is Learning English from the News, our podcast about the news headlines. Today, we're talking about the meeting this week between US President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping.

Pippa (3:25)

As we've mentioned, President Xi's visit to the US comes just weeks before a truce on trade between the two countries is due to end.

Becca (3:32)

Before the truce was agreed, the US and China had imposed very high tariffs on each other's products.

Tariffs are taxes on products entering the country. The truce means these tariffs are currently lower.

Pippa (3:47)

Many experts say that the two countries will try to extend their truce and make more agreements on trade.

Becca (3:53)

Our next headline is about this. This headline is from the New York Times and American newspaper.

With time on his side, she seeks to extend to truce with Trump.

Pippa (4:05)

That headline again from the New York Times. With time on his side, she seeks to extend to truce with Trump.

Becca (4:12)

We're interested in this expression, time on his side. What does it mean to have time on your side, Pepper?

Pippa (4:19)

Well, this is an expression which is all about how quickly you need to do something. If time is on your side, then you don't need to do a particular thing quickly. In other words, you have lots of time in which to do it.

Becca (4:32)

Right, so in this headline, it says time is on Xi Jinping's side to extend the truce with Trump. This means he has time to do it.

Remember, the truce doesn't end until November.

Pippa (4:45)

We can use the expression time is on someone's side in everyday situations too, often to talk about decisions or deadlines. For example, I want to go travelling next year, but I don't need to book anything for a little while. Time is on my side.