US and China Seek Middle Ground on Tariffs as Trump-Xi Talks in South Korea Aim to Curb Escalating Trade Tensions
In a bid to ease the increasingly heated relationship between the US and China, President Donald Trump is set to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea, amidst escalating trade tensions.
The two leaders will discuss key issues such as tariffs, combating fentanyl, and access to rare earth minerals, but it's unclear whether a comprehensive agreement can be reached. The meeting comes as the US and China approach a November 10 deadline for reaching a tariff deal, which has sparked concerns of a potential economic war.
A working expectation is that Trump and Xi will agree on a temporary pause in the fight rather than finalizing a sweeping deal. Beijing could ease export curbs on strategically crucial rare earths, while Washington may hold off on broad tariff hikes. The two sides could also reach for gestures such as expanded purchases of US farm goods by China.
While Trump has expressed optimism about reaching agreements, he acknowledges that the meeting is not a guarantee of success. "I think we're going to do well with China," he said in a recent statement. "We meet, as you know, in South Korea with President Xi... and they want to make a deal. We want to make a deal."
The stakes are high, with analysts warning that the US and China may be at an impasse due to fundamental differences in their economic systems. Miles Yu, a former State Department adviser on China, described the trade tensions as "sizing each other out," with Washington pushing for concrete steps on fentanyl, market access, and more.
However, there are indications of a willingness to compromise. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said negotiators had shaped a framework for the two leaders to consider that spanned tariffs, trade, fentanyl, rare earths, and "substantial" purchases of US agricultural products such as soybeans.
As Trump prepares to leave South Korea for his return to the US, analysts point out that the meeting may have achieved little in terms of concrete agreements. Zeng Jinghan, a professor of international relations at the City University of Hong Kong, noted that while a consensus and agreements are possible, there is limited room for a sweeping agreement between the two nations.
Ultimately, Trump's pragmatic approach to dealing with China has been praised by some, but cautionary notes have also been sounded. Dan Caldwell, a former senior adviser to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, warned against expecting too much from the meeting, saying that "the whole thing does not hinge on just one set of talks."
In a bid to ease the increasingly heated relationship between the US and China, President Donald Trump is set to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea, amidst escalating trade tensions.
The two leaders will discuss key issues such as tariffs, combating fentanyl, and access to rare earth minerals, but it's unclear whether a comprehensive agreement can be reached. The meeting comes as the US and China approach a November 10 deadline for reaching a tariff deal, which has sparked concerns of a potential economic war.
A working expectation is that Trump and Xi will agree on a temporary pause in the fight rather than finalizing a sweeping deal. Beijing could ease export curbs on strategically crucial rare earths, while Washington may hold off on broad tariff hikes. The two sides could also reach for gestures such as expanded purchases of US farm goods by China.
While Trump has expressed optimism about reaching agreements, he acknowledges that the meeting is not a guarantee of success. "I think we're going to do well with China," he said in a recent statement. "We meet, as you know, in South Korea with President Xi... and they want to make a deal. We want to make a deal."
The stakes are high, with analysts warning that the US and China may be at an impasse due to fundamental differences in their economic systems. Miles Yu, a former State Department adviser on China, described the trade tensions as "sizing each other out," with Washington pushing for concrete steps on fentanyl, market access, and more.
However, there are indications of a willingness to compromise. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said negotiators had shaped a framework for the two leaders to consider that spanned tariffs, trade, fentanyl, rare earths, and "substantial" purchases of US agricultural products such as soybeans.
As Trump prepares to leave South Korea for his return to the US, analysts point out that the meeting may have achieved little in terms of concrete agreements. Zeng Jinghan, a professor of international relations at the City University of Hong Kong, noted that while a consensus and agreements are possible, there is limited room for a sweeping agreement between the two nations.
Ultimately, Trump's pragmatic approach to dealing with China has been praised by some, but cautionary notes have also been sounded. Dan Caldwell, a former senior adviser to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, warned against expecting too much from the meeting, saying that "the whole thing does not hinge on just one set of talks."
I think it's all about finding that middle ground 
. Both the US and China want to avoid an economic war 
, so they're gonna have to make some compromises. Trump's all about pragmatism 
, which is cool, but we should still be careful not to get our hopes up too high 
. It's like a game of chess - they need to move their pieces strategically before making the big reveal. And let's be real, rare earth minerals are like the ultimate prize 
! If Beijing and Washington can find a way to make peace over those, maybe we'll see some progress 
. Still, I gotta say, a temporary pause in tariffs sounds like a good start 
.
what's up with tariffs anyway? it's like they're trying to make each other poorer. i mean trump says he wants a deal but is it just a publicity stunt? 
