The Trump Xi meeting has been officially confirmed by the White House, with US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping scheduled to hold talks in South Korea on 30 October. The high-stakes dialogue will take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Gyeongju, where both leaders are expected to discuss escalating trade tensions, tariffs, and rare earth exports.
This will mark their first face-to-face meeting since Trump’s return to office, following months of economic friction. Trump has threatened to impose a 100% tariff on Chinese imports starting in November unless Beijing reverses its recent restrictions on rare earth exports — key materials used in electronics and electric vehicles.
Speaking at the White House, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the meeting, noting that Trump and Xi are expected to have “a pretty long discussion” aimed at resolving ongoing disputes. “We can work out a lot of our doubts and questions,” Trump said earlier, adding that he believes “something will work out” between the two nations.
China Optimistic as Tensions Simmer
Ahead of the Trump Xi meeting, China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao expressed cautious optimism. He said previous negotiations had shown that it was “entirely possible to find solutions to each other’s concerns,” emphasizing that stable and sustainable trade relations were in both nations’ interests.
However, friction remains high. China’s decision to tighten control over rare earth exports earlier this month drew criticism from Washington, prompting Trump to accuse Beijing of trying to “hold the world captive.” In response, China defended its actions as necessary to protect national resources.
Trump and Xi have already spoken three times this year, most recently in September about the ongoing TikTok deal in the US. Their last in-person meeting was in 2019 during Trump’s first term.
A Diplomatic Balancing Act in Asia
The Trump Xi meeting will be part of Trump’s wider diplomatic tour of Asia, which includes stops in Malaysia for the ASEAN summit and meetings with leaders from South Korea, Japan, and Malaysia. Notably, Trump will hold talks with South Korea’s Lee Jae Myung and Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
The US and China remain locked in a fragile trade ceasefire brokered in May, which prevented the imposition of new tariffs. Yet the looming November deadline and renewed export disputes threaten to reignite economic tensions between the two superpowers.
For Trump, the Gyeongju summit presents both an opportunity and a test — to balance tough trade policy with diplomatic finesse. As the world watches, the Trump Xi meeting could define the next phase of global trade relations between Washington and Beijing.
