Trump, Xi to meet in South Korea for high-stakes trade talks
3 weeks ago
President Donald Trump is set to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea this week as both nations work to ease global market concerns and mend strained trade relations.
The White House says preliminary talks have been productive, with early signs of an agreement forming. Discussions are focusing on China’s control of strategic minerals, U.S. export rules, and agricultural trade.
Trump’s team is pressing Beijing to relax restrictions on rare earth minerals, which are crucial for American manufacturing and defense industries. The president is also seeking increased Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans to support farmers across the heartland.
China, meanwhile, is looking for relief from stringent U.S. technology export controls and hopes Trump will reconsider new tariffs tied to fentanyl trafficking.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called the negotiations “the most promising in years” and said a “successful framework” is taking shape. Trump said both sides want a deal but emphasized that the U.S. will continue defending fair trade and national security.
The White House says preliminary talks have been productive, with early signs of an agreement forming. Discussions are focusing on China’s control of strategic minerals, U.S. export rules, and agricultural trade.
Trump’s team is pressing Beijing to relax restrictions on rare earth minerals, which are crucial for American manufacturing and defense industries. The president is also seeking increased Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans to support farmers across the heartland.
China, meanwhile, is looking for relief from stringent U.S. technology export controls and hopes Trump will reconsider new tariffs tied to fentanyl trafficking.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called the negotiations “the most promising in years” and said a “successful framework” is taking shape. Trump said both sides want a deal but emphasized that the U.S. will continue defending fair trade and national security.
