Trump, Xi meet in South Korea to cool trade war
“Trump and Xi convened in Busan for their first face-to-face talks since 2019, with the US leader hopeful of easing a reignited trade dispute.”
Key points
- Trump and Xi convened in Busan for their first face-to-face talks since 2019, with the US leader hopeful of easing a reignited trade dispute.
- Rare-earth curbs, fentanyl flows and Taiwan were among the sticking points.
US President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea, expressing optimism about striking a truce in the renewed trade confrontation. The handshake at a South Korean air base marked their first in-person encounter since 2019, with Trump telling reporters he expected a productive outcome and even floated the possibility of a deal being signed during the visit.
The discussions come after both sides ratcheted up pressure, with Beijing proposing wider curbs on rare-earth mineral exports and Washington warning of further measures. US concerns over fentanyl trafficking featured prominently on the agenda, alongside long-running tensions over Taiwan and strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific.
As delegations sat down for talks, Xi struck a measured tone, acknowledging frictions between the world’s two biggest economies while signaling willingness to manage differences. The meeting capped Trump’s rapid swing through Asia, during which he touted trade gains with regional partners and framed the Busan talks as a chance to reset ties with Beijing.
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