After several months of strained relations, US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Busan, South Korea, in what observers called an “enormously helpful” step toward stabilizing one of the most consequential relationships in the world. The meeting, which has taken place on the sidelines of the APEC summit, marked an attempt by both leaders to move from confrontation to controlled cooperation.
A Softer Tone from Trump
Frank Lavin, former US Undersecretary of Commerce, told : “Both leaders were trying to take issues off the table and get relations back on an even keel.” He said Trump, who opened with unusually warm praise for Xi, looked “on the backfoot” in his effort to “signal goodwill.”
“Trump lit the fire, and Xi responded in kind,” Lavin said. “Now both sides are trying to put out the fire they themselves started. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/6-takeaways-from-trumps-meeting-with-chinese-leader-xi
What Was on the Table
Three issues, according to sources present at the meeting, dominated the talks: tariffs, rare earths and AI chips, and the fate of TikTok’s US operations.
Tariffs: Trump said he will slash tariffs on Chinese products—from 20 percent to 10 percent—in return for China’s cooperation on reducing fentanyl exports. The move reduces the overall U.S. tariff rates on China from 57 percent to 47 percent.
Rare Earths and AI Chips: Beijing will continue exporting rare earth minerals for a year to keep global industries dependent on them running. As China refines more than 90% of the world’s critical minerals, the pledge allays immediate concerns over supply chain disruptions. Still, according to analysts, the U.S. remains vulnerable as it races to diversify supply chains.
A Win for American Farmers
In yet another fillip to Trump’s domestic agenda, Beijing reportedly has resumed soybean purchases from the U.S., with the first shipments already confirmed by Reuters. The move, expected to be followed by a “resounding victory” announcement from Washington, could revive rural economies hit by earlier trade tensions.
Geopolitical Consequences
While the rare earths agreement and tariff reduction provide short-term relief, experts say they only delay deeper challenges. China still dominates the semiconductor and mineral supply chains so crucial to global manufacturing. Trump hailed the summit as “a 12 out of 10,” but the road ahead remains fragile: The U.S. may have bought time for supply chains, while China maintains the advantage in rare earths. As one observer said, the meeting in Busan wasn’t about hitting the reset button but preventing a collapse of relations. And in a world already on edge from trade wars, AI competition, and geopolitical rivalry, that alone may count as progress.
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