Trump tariffs dominated headlines as Donald Trump finally met China’s President Xi Jinping face to face, marking his first in-person encounter since returning to the White House.
During their 90-minute meeting in South Korea, the two leaders agreed on steps aimed at easing years of tense trade relations.
Trump Tariffs Take Centre Stage
First, Trump announced that the United States would cut tariffs on Chinese goods from 57 % to 47%.
Then, speaking aboard Air Force One, he highlighted China’s strong actions against fentanyl-related imports, emphasising progress on sensitive trade issues.
Xi Signals Pragmatic Cooperation
Meanwhile, Xi described the outcome as “a reassuring pill” and explained that the two sides had reached consensus on major trade challenges.
He also pointed to opportunities for cooperation in AI, cybercrime, money laundering, and illegal migration.
“China and the US can show responsibility and achieve practical benefits for both nations,” Xi added, signalling a shared commitment to global stability.
Furthermore, Beijing will suspend certain export controls on rare earths and other critical high-tech materials for a year.
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In return, Washington will pause rules targeting companies partly owned by entities on US sanctions lists.
Additionally, both nations will suspend measures affecting maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding industries for one year.
The commerce ministry in Beijing emphasised that these results required hard work and expressed eagerness to implement them effectively.
A Cautious Reset
Analysts quickly interpreted the meeting as evidence of a more pragmatic approach from both leaders.
Former adviser to China’s State Council, Henry Wang, noted that Trump has adopted a more realistic stance this term.
He added that China might now buy advanced US computer chips, though top models remain restricted.
Although the agreement stops short of a full trade deal, it represents the most significant easing of tensions between the world’s two largest economies in years.
Ultimately, the meeting shows that cautious cooperation can still shape global relations.
