President Xi & Trump to meet amid escalating U.S.–China trade tensions

U.S. President Donald Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea on October 30, the White House confirmed Thursday, marking the first face-to-face talks between the two leaders since Trump’s return to office.

The high-stakes meeting will take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which runs from October 31 to November 1 in the eastern city of Gyeongju.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the two leaders are expected to hold “a fairly long meeting” aimed at addressing key points of contention between the world’s two largest economies.

“We can work out a lot of our doubts and questions — and our tremendous assets — together,” Trump told reporters earlier this week. “I think something will work out. We have a very good relationship, but that will be a big one.”

The planned summit comes as tensions flare over trade and technology. Earlier this month, China tightened export controls on rare earth minerals, critical materials for electric vehicles and electronics. In response, Trump threatened to impose an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods starting in November unless Beijing reverses its restrictions.

Despite the tensions, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao voiced cautious optimism, saying past negotiations showed it was possible “to find solutions to each other’s concerns” and promote “healthy, stable, and sustainable” trade relations.

Trump’s Asia trip also includes meetings with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and newly appointed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, as well as participation in the ASEAN summit in Malaysia on Sunday.

Trump and Xi last met in person in 2019, during Trump’s first term. The two leaders have spoken several times this year, most recently in September, when they discussed the future of TikTok’s U.S. operations.

Washington and Beijing have maintained a fragile trade ceasefire since May, temporarily averting further tariff hikes. However, Trump’s latest tariff threat underscores how quickly the truce could unravel as both sides harden their stances.

In a recent social media post, Trump accused China of trying to hold the world “captive” through its control of rare earth exports, calling Beijing’s actions “very hostile.”

China currently dominates global production of rare earth elements — materials vital for manufacturing smartphones, electric vehicles, and other advanced technologies — giving it significant leverage in global supply chains.