Asia30 October, 20252 min read
Trump and Xi Agree on Temporary Trade Truce at APEC Summit in South Korea
Trump and Xi agreed on a temporary truce to ease US-China trade tensions at APEC summit. China committed to purchasing US soybeans and relaxing rare earth export controls.
75 outlets told this the same way.
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Trump-Xi Meeting and Trade Truce
At the APEC summit in South Korea, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a just-over-100-minute face-to-face meeting—their first since 2019.
“The summit was highlighted by a truce in the US-China trade war, following a face-to-face meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping—their first since 2019.”
The meeting produced a temporary trade truce and a “preliminary consensus” aimed at easing market jitters.
Coverage describes possible steps such as limited U.S. tariff reductions, notably those tied to fentanyl-related concerns.
China agreed to relax rare-earth export controls and boost purchases of American soybeans.
These moves were framed as de-escalatory but not a final settlement.
Several outlets add that the truce and the Trump–Xi encounter overshadowed APEC’s broader agenda.
Leaders at the summit pledged support for trade and investment to benefit all economies.
Summary of Truce Developments
Reports outline potential confidence-building steps behind the truce, including pausing China’s rare-earth export restrictions and resuming large U.S. soybean purchases. Other measures involve easing select U.S. tariffs and tightening China’s controls on fentanyl precursors. Additional narrow administrative fixes include reduced port fees and permitting TikTok to continue operating in the U.S.
The progress reflects groundwork by officials in Malaysia and elsewhere, yielding a preliminary framework but leaving core strategic rivalries unresolved. Analysts repeatedly describe the outcome as a partial détente or short-term stabilization rather than a comprehensive settlement.
Diplomatic Meeting and Regional Issues
The optics were notably cordial as Xi warmly acknowledged the reunion and called frictions normal. Trump repeatedly referred to Xi as a friend while saying several issues were already agreed upon. Coverage from regional and international outlets suggests optimism that a deal could be reached soon.
“Xi warmly acknowledged their reunion and recognized normal economic frictions... Trump referred to Xi as a friend and noted they had already reached agreements on several issues.”
Trump was set to return to Washington while Xi stayed on to deepen regional ties and court partners frustrated with U.S. tariffs. Parallel to trade, Xi’s bilateral agenda in South Korea included denuclearization discussions with Seoul. This initiative drew criticism from North Korea.
APEC Trade Cooperation Update
APEC’s message on trade was optimistic but contained some complexities. Al Jazeera reports that leaders pledged to deepen cooperation and market-driven integration. ABC News notes that Seoul sought a joint endorsement of free trade, which was uncertain due to disagreements between the U.S. and China.
Newsarenaindia adds that the statement avoided the explicit phrase “free and open trade,” even as it promoted multilateralism. Analysts and some outlets emphasize limited substance in the agreements.
CNA describes the assurances as mostly symbolic, and Moneycontrol reports no major agreements were reached. However, other sources like The Nightly say the leaders agreed to discuss stability, tariff reductions, and technology restrictions.
Conflicting Reports on Key Issues
Several outlets also report contentious, potentially overshadowing side-developments. Multiple Western mainstream and other sources say Trump announced just before the meeting that he had ordered the Pentagon to immediately resume U.S. nuclear weapons testing, ending a decades-long moratorium, though details remain sparse. Other sources never mention this, focusing solely on the trade truce.
“The U.S. president plans to officially recognize Taiwanese independence, a decision strongly opposed by Beijing.”
Coverage also diverges sharply on Taiwan: France 24 reports the issue was not discussed, whereas CBS News claims the president plans to officially recognize Taiwanese independence. This assertion is at odds with most reporting. These discrepancies underscore how narratives varied widely even as the core takeaway remained a temporary de-escalation of the trade conflict.
