In recent months, the United States and China have been locked in trade and technology disputes, impacting the global economy. A meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping is expected to be a noteworthy event, as the agreements and potential conflicts that emerge from this conversation have the potential to impact many other nations. The meeting is scheduled to take place this week in Seoul, South Korea, following Trump’s engagements in Japan and culminating an intense trip through Asia aimed primarily at strengthening trade and diplomatic ties.
Trump seeks to cement agreements and show regional leadership before confronting Xi
U.S. President Donald Trump is close to concluding his commitments in Asia, a visit that has been marked by an intense pace of negotiations. Before arriving in Japan, the president visited Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, where he secured trade agreements and even influenced the decision to establish a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia. In Kuala Lumpur, during the ASEAN summit, Trump stated that the United States and China were “very close” to a trade agreement.
“I have a lot of respect for President Xi, and we are going to come away with the deal,” said the American president.
Trump uses personal diplomacy in Japan to strengthen alliances and ease trade tensions
The president was welcomed by Japan’s new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, in Tokyo, whose goal was to strengthen a friendly relationship that could ease existing issues over tariffs and technology. “I’ve heard phenomenal things about Takaichi,” Trump said, citing his closeness to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Trump’s friendly tone highlights an effort to balance economic pressure with diplomatic gestures.
In addition to trade negotiations and diplomatic engagements, the trip also included a meeting with Emperor Naruhito, which was seen as a gesture of courtesy to express the cultural importance of the ties between Washington and Tokyo. The main focus of the trip, however, remains economic, with Trump seeking to realign Asian trade with American interests while maintaining his “America First” political ideology.
Trump seeks trade deal with Xi, uses TikTok and tariffs as negotiating pieces
The meeting with Xi in Seoul is expected to take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Officials from both governments have already announced that negotiations between the two powers have already resulted in a preliminary consensus. One of the objectives would be to finalize a trade agreement and determine the fate of TikTok, an app that is one of the sources of tension between the two powers.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said 100% tariffs on Chinese products are “effectively off the table,” suggesting the two countries are moving toward a scenario of mutual concessions. Beijing, for its part, is expected to postpone its restrictions on the export of rare earth minerals
For Trump, the success of these negotiations would have a direct positive political impact. A successful trade negotiation with China would further strengthen his image as a negotiator and, consequently, allow him to expand his global influence.
Trump and Xi aim to balance power as Asia tour nears its end
Trump is heading toward the end of his Asian trip, trying to project an image of a mediator capable of balancing trade issues according to his interests. For Xi, the Seoul meeting is an opportunity to demonstrate stability and an openness to negotiate, amid a domestic economy under pressure.
With the two leaders imminent, the possibilities for what might emerge from this moment are diverse, but so far, everything indicates that the two nations are leaning toward a friendly approach. A rapprochement between Washington and Beijing could ease trade tensions and bring more predictability to global markets.