Chinese authorities are evaluating BYD Co. (SZSE:002594) as a potential member of a business delegation slated to join President Xi Jinping at his Sept. 24 summit with Donald Trump in Washington, people familiar with the discussions said. Senior officials, including Xi’s chief of staff Cai Qi, have been reviewing a roster of industry chiefs for the state visit, though the list remains provisional and could change before finalization.
One option under consideration is having BYD founder Wang Chuanfu travel with the top leader. That choice would carry obvious symbolic weight. The United States currently imposes 100% tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles, a trade barrier that effectively prevents those cars from entering the American market.
The company has also faced national security action this year. In June, the Pentagon placed BYD on a blacklist over alleged ties to the People’s Liberation Army. BYD has publicly rejected assertions that it supports the Chinese military.
Sources involved in the delegation planning say China’s selection criteria for business participants are focused. Officials have been looking for leaders with an active U.S. deal in progress, demonstrable loyalty to the Communist Party, and the capacity to avoid drawing attention away from Xi during the visit. Those factors are being weighed alongside diplomatic and commercial considerations as the lineup is refined.
In parallel, visa processing is an operational constraint. Several industry executives under consideration are still waiting for U.S. visas, which could affect who ultimately travels to Washington. That outstanding administrative step remains an immediate uncertainty in the delegation planning.
The prospect of including a company targeted by both steep tariffs and Pentagon action underscores the tightrope China aims to walk in coordinating business representation with political messaging. The deliberations by senior aides and the provisional nature of the roster suggest officials are calibrating participation carefully as the Sept. 24 meeting approaches.
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