Trump seeks trade breakthrough with Xi on Asia tour

US President Donald Trump set off on a five-day swing through Malaysia, Japan and South Korea, framing the tour as a test of his capacity to land deals on trade, minerals and regional security. The White House has sketched a fluid schedule that includes the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur and a potential encounter with Chinese President Xi Jinping later in the week. Washington and Beijing remain locked in a tariff fight while weighing limited steps to ease export controls and open narrow lanes for commerce. US officials say any understanding with China, if reached, would likely be modest—focused on calibrated tariff relief or targeted purchases—rather than a sweeping reset. Trump has threatened further tariff hikes from November if talks stall. Beyond trade, the agenda is set to include Taiwan, Russia’s war in Ukraine and controls on critical technologies. The president is also expected to raise human-rights concerns, including the case of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai. Analysts caution that both sides are preparing for managing differences, not for a dramatic breakthrough.