Trump to Meet Xi Jinping Amid Rare Earth Tensions at APEC Summit in South Korea:

US President Donald Trump is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on 30 October in South Korea, the White House has confirmed. The meeting will take place on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Gyeongju, which runs from 31 October to 1 November. This will be the first in-person meeting between the two leaders since Trump returned to office. The high-profile meeting comes amid rising tensions between the world’s two largest economies, particularly over rare earth exports. Trump has warned that the US could impose an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods starting in November if Beijing does not ease its tightened restrictions on these critical materials, which are essential for electronics, electric vehicles, and defense technologies. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the meeting during a briefing, while Trump said earlier, “I’ll be meeting with President Xi of China. We have a pretty long meeting scheduled. We can work out a lot of our doubts and questions and our tremendous assets together. I think something will work out. We have a very good relationship, but that will be a big one.” China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao expressed optimism about the upcoming talks. He stated that past negotiations show it is “entirely possible to find solutions to each other’s concerns” and promote “healthy, stable, and sustainable development of China-US economic and trade relations.” Trump’s trip to South Korea also includes meetings with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and participation in a working dinner with regional leaders. The visit is part of a broader Asian tour, which includes stops in Malaysia for the ASEAN Summit and meetings with leaders from Japan and other countries in the region. This year, Trump and Xi have already held at least three phone conversations, most recently in September, when they discussed US operations of TikTok. Their last face-to-face meeting was in 2019 during Trump’s first term. Trump has repeatedly emphasized that direct talks with Xi are the most effective way to address ongoing issues, including trade disputes, tariffs, and fentanyl trafficking. The immediate cause of tension is China’s recent tightening of export controls on rare earths. China dominates global production and processing of these materials, controlling around 60–70% of output and 90% of processing capacity. In response to Trump’s tariff threats, China added several heavy rare earths—including samarium, dysprosium, terbium, and lutetium—to its export control list, requiring licenses and procedural approvals for shipments. Analysts warn that this move gives China significant leverage over the US and other countries reliant on these materials. The Trump-Xi meeting is therefore being closely watched as a potential turning point in US-China relations. With trade tensions escalating, both leaders face pressure to find solutions that could prevent further economic friction and safeguard critical supply chains. Observers will be watching whether this high-stakes meeting produces a framework for easing tensions or sets the stage for more economic battles in the months ahead.

NEWS