On 25 September, China, Australia and the United States recorded developments involving AI governance, access to legally mandated rules and cross-border digital regulation. The leaders of China and the United States placed human control of AI and military crisis communication on their public agenda; the Australian Government announced free access for tradespeople to mandatory standards referenced in law; and the United States sought to intervene in two challenges to a European Commission decision under the Digital Services Act.
China
Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump met at the White House on 24 September. According to the Chinese Government's account, Xi said the agencies responsible for foreign affairs, economic matters, financial co-operation, law enforcement and people-to-people exchanges should strengthen their contacts. He also said that China and the United States, as leading countries in artificial intelligence, had both the capability and responsibility to develop and govern AI for good, keep it under human control and ensure it served people's wellbeing.
The same official account said Xi proposed stronger counternarcotics and law-enforcement co-operation, a possible increase in direct flights, and regular military dialogue with improved crisis communication and prevention mechanisms. He also announced an invitation for 100,000 young Americans to visit China for exchanges and study over five years. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, citing Reuters, reported that the meeting was marked by ceremony and symbolism. As at 25 September, the two governments had not publicly released an AI agreement containing implementation arrangements, nor had they announced a specific breakthrough on AI, trade, Taiwan or Iran. The public record therefore confirms the agenda and official statements, but not their conversion into a binding joint mechanism.
Australia
Assistant Treasurer Andrew Leigh announced on 25 September that tradespeople would receive free access to mandatory standards referenced in Australian law. Builders, electricians, plumbers and other trades had previously faced charges to obtain some of the standards they were required to follow.
The measure implements a commitment in the 2026 federal budget to provide free access to standards referenced in legislation. In a House of Representatives budget speech on 26 May, Leigh said it would cover all standards referenced in Australian legislation. The Government estimated that a small trade business could save up to A$1,600 a year in access fees. The 25 September announcement changes access to the text of the rules; it does not alter compliance obligations once a standard is incorporated into law.
United States
The US Department of Justice announced on 24 September that it had applied to intervene in X Internet and X Holdings v Commission and Musk v Commission before the General Court of the European Union, case numbers T-114/26 and T-121/26. The United States supports the applicants' efforts to annul a European Commission decision of 5 December 2025 under the Digital Services Act. The department said the decision found the parties liable for violations and imposed a €120 million fine jointly and severally.
The Justice Department argues that the Commission's treatment of service providers, group liability and territorial jurisdiction improperly expanded its regulatory reach and could affect other digital platforms headquartered in the United States. Those are the US Government's submissions in the litigation, not legal findings already made by the Court. The EU Court's public case records show that both matters remain pending and that the applicants seek annulment of the decision or adjustment of the fine. As at 25 September, the General Court had not delivered a judgment.
Editorial framework: This briefing uses Sustenesis as an editorial framework for selecting facts, organising relationships and structuring information, with attention to differences and constraints in rules, responsibilities, resources, risks and social relations. Sustenesis functions here as a method of organisation rather than a position or commentary; the body remains limited to verifiable facts.
Sources
The State Council of the People's Republic of China, Xi says ready to work with Trump to steer China-U.S. ties on steady course
https://english.www.gov.cn/news/202609/25/content_WS6ab54e0bc6d00ca5f9a0d719.html
ABC Chinese, 习近平访美：一场象征意义浓厚的特习会
https://www.abc.net.au/chinese/2026-09-25/trump-welcomes-china-s-xi-with-fanfare-but-no-breakthroughs/107196682
Australian Treasury Ministers, Tradies get free access to mandatory standards
https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/andrew-leigh-2025/media-releases/tradies-get-free-access-mandatory-standards
OpenAustralia, Budget: 26 May 2026: House debates
https://www.openaustralia.org.au/debates/?id=2026-05-26.77.2&m=749
US Department of Justice, United States Files Request to Intervene in Case Brought by X Corp. and Elon Musk Seeking to Annul Decision by European Commission
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/united-states-files-request-intervene-case-brought-x-corp-and-elon-musk-seeking-annul
Court of Justice of the European Union, X Internet Unlimited Company and X Holdings Corp. v European Commission, T-114/26
https://infocuria.curia.europa.eu/tabs/affair?affstate=ENC&juridiction=T&lang=EN&searchTerm=t-114%2F26
Court of Justice of the European Union, Elon Musk v European Commission, T-121/26
https://infocuria.curia.europa.eu/tabs/affair?affstate=ENC&juridiction=T&lang=EN&searchTerm=t-121%2F26
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