Trump and Xi Meet in South Korea to Forge Trade Deal, Address Tariffs, Fentanyl, and TikTok
President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are meeting in South Korea to negotiate a trade deal, discussing tariff reductions, fentanyl precursor controls, TikTok's ownership, and other critical global issues.
Overview
President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are holding an urgent meeting in South Korea to negotiate a comprehensive trade deal, aiming to present it as a mutual victory and stabilize future relations.
President Trump plans to lower tariffs on Chinese imports, a key concession, in exchange for Beijing's commitment to significantly reduce precursor chemicals used in fentanyl production.
China has shown willingness to relax rare earth export controls and increase purchases of American soybeans, alongside potential discussions on placing TikTok under majority U.S. ownership.
Beyond trade, the leaders are also discussing other critical global topics, including the ongoing war in Ukraine and the sensitive issue of Taiwan's security.
This high-stakes summit seeks to de-escalate escalating trade tensions, reset global power dynamics, and address various geopolitical concerns between the two major powers.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by consistently emphasizing the high-stakes, conflict-ridden nature of U.S.-China trade relations, portraying the meeting as a temporary effort to stabilize "months of turmoil" amidst an enduring "deeper rivalry." They highlight the mutual desire to avert economic crisis while underscoring the inherent strategic competition between the two global powers.
Sources (17)
Center (6)
FAQ
The primary issues include negotiating a comprehensive trade deal, reducing tariffs on Chinese imports, controlling fentanyl precursor chemicals, discussing TikTok's ownership, and addressing geopolitical concerns such as the Ukraine war and Taiwan's security.
China is expected to significantly reduce precursor chemicals used in fentanyl production, relax rare earth export controls, and increase purchases of American soybeans.
The meeting is taking place in Busan, South Korea, on the sidelines of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.
History
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