President Trump said on Thursday that he had a “truly great” meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, a sign that trade tensions between Washington and Beijing may ease.
“I had a truly great meeting with President Xi of China. There is enormous respect between our two Countries, and that will only be enhanced with what just took place. We agreed on many things, with others, even of high importance, being very close to resolved,” the president wrote on Truth Social.
Trump said that Xi agreed China would purchase “massive amounts” of soybeans and other farm products from the US, hold off on its restrictions on the export of rare earth minerals, and “work diligently” to stem the flow of fentanyl to the US. In exchange, Trump said he would reduce fentanyl-related tariffs on China from 20% to 10%, bringing the effective tariff rate on Chinese imports from 57% to 47%.
While a formal trade deal wasn’t reached, Trump said he expects one to be inked “pretty soon,” and that he will be visiting Beijing in April 2026, with Xi expected to travel to the US after that. In remarks to each other, both leaders struck very respectful, conciliatory tones.
“China and the United States should be partners and friends. That is what history has taught us and what reality needs,” Xi told Trump, according to the Chinese news agency Xinhua. Xi acknowledged recent “frictions” between the US and Russia but said that he and Trump should be able to handle them.
“In the face of winds, waves, and challenges, we should stay the right course, navigate through the complex landscape, and ensure the steady sailing forward of the giant ship of China-U.S. relations,” Xi added.
Ahead of the meeting, which lasted over an hour and a half, there was speculation that the two leaders might discuss Taiwan and regional military tensions, but Trump said Taiwan “never came up.” During his trip to the region, President Trump reaffirmed US military alliances with Japan and South Korea and said that he had given Seoul “approval” to build a nuclear-powered submarine.
