Trump to meet China's Xi in South Korea amid rising trade tensions
US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he will hold a face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea 'within the next couple of weeks,' as part of a broader diplomatic push across Asia.
Speaking at the White House alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Trump said the upcoming meeting would focus on efforts to “reach a fair deal” with Beijing, following months of escalating trade tensions between the two economic powers.
“We’re going to be meeting in South Korea in a couple of weeks, and we’ll see what we can do,” Trump told reporters. “I believe after we leave South Korea, we’re going to have a very good relationship with China.”
The US president noted that the two leaders plan to discuss “a range of important issues,” though he did not elaborate. He also revealed that he has been invited to visit China and intends to make the trip “fairly early next year,” signaling a potential thaw in the strained relationship.
Trump’s remarks come after a turbulent week in US-China trade relations, during which he threatened to impose an additional 100% tariff on Chinese imports in retaliation for Beijing’s new restrictions on exports of key industrial materials. The move has reignited fears of a renewed trade war that could impact global markets.
The White House has not confirmed specific dates for the South Korea meeting, but analysts say the discussion could take place on the sidelines of a regional forum or as part of Trump’s upcoming Asia tour.
The president said he will also visit Malaysia and Japan, among other countries, as part of the trip. Malaysia is set to host an ASEAN Summit, where Trump is expected to engage with Southeast Asian leaders on regional security, trade, and the Indo-Pacific strategy.
During his joint press appearance, Trump added that Prime Minister Albanese had invited him to visit Australia, saying he would “give it serious consideration.”
The planned meeting between Trump and Xi will be their first since trade negotiations stalled earlier this year. Observers believe the discussions could be pivotal in determining whether Washington and Beijing can de-escalate economic tensions and restore stability to global supply chains.
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