Trump and Xi Meet in Busan to Revive US-China Trade Talks

COLOMBO (News 1st); US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have arrived in Busan, South Korea, for a pivotal face-to-face meeting aimed at resetting trade relations amid escalating tensions.

This marks the first direct engagement between the two leaders since Trump’s return to office, and comes at a critical juncture in the ongoing US-China trade and technology standoff. The summit is expected to focus on tariffs, rare-earth mineral access, and tech sector restrictions, with both sides signaling cautious optimism about reaching a new framework for cooperation.

The backdrop to this meeting is steeped in history. The last time Trump and Xi met was in 2019, during the G20 summit in Osaka, where they agreed to resume stalled trade negotiations. At the time, Trump had imposed sweeping tariffs on Chinese imports and was actively campaigning to block Huawei from Western telecom networks.

Despite his tough-on-China stance, Trump’s first year in office in 2017 saw notable diplomatic overtures. During a state visit to Beijing, he became the first foreign leader in the 70-year history of the People’s Republic of China to be hosted for an official dinner inside the Forbidden City, a gesture that symbolized a brief thaw in relations.

Now, with Trump threatening up to 155% tariffs on Chinese goods and China tightening export controls on critical materials like rare earths, the stakes are higher than ever. The Busan summit is being closely watched by global markets and policymakers, as both leaders attempt to navigate a path forward in one of the world’s most consequential bilateral relationships.