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 between the world’s two largest economies.
This marks the first direct engagement between the two leaders since Trump’s return to office, coming at a crucial juncture in the ongoing US–China trade and technology standoff. The summit is expected to focus on key issues such as tariffs, access to rare-earth minerals, and restrictions on the technology sector. Both sides have signaled cautious optimism about establishing a new framework for cooperation.
The meeting carries significant historical weight. 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 that time, Trump had imposed sweeping tariffs on Chinese imports and spearheaded efforts to block Huawei from Western telecommunications networks.
Despite his tough rhetoric, Trump’s early diplomatic efforts included notable gestures. During his 2017 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 symbol of temporary warmth in an otherwise tense relationship.
Now, with Trump threatening tariffs of up to 155% on Chinese goods and Beijing tightening export controls on critical resources such as rare earths, the stakes are higher than ever. The Busan summit is being closely monitored by global markets and policymakers as both leaders attempt to recalibrate one of the world’s most consequential bilateral relationships.
