US President Donald Trump hailed his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping as a "12" out of 10, a scale he used to rate the success of their talks, as he announced plans to cut tariffs on China.
The decision came after a 100-minute meeting between the two leaders in South Korea, where they discussed various trade issues and agreed to allow China to export rare earth elements and increase its purchases of American soybeans. The US will lower its tariffs on Chinese goods from 57% to 47%, with the rate on chemicals used to make fentanyl reduced from 20% to 10%.
Trump expressed optimism about the prospects for a trade deal, saying he would sign it "pretty soon", but cautioned that there is still work to be done. Xi, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two countries, urging them to take a long-term perspective and avoid falling into a cycle of mutual retaliation.
Despite Trump's upbeat assessment, tensions between the US and China remain a significant issue. Both nations are engaged in a fierce competition for economic and technological supremacy, and their trade relationship has been marked by periods of tension and volatility.
The latest agreement is seen as a tentative step forward, but experts warn that it may not last long. "The proposed deal on the table fits the pattern we've seen all year: short-term stabilization dressed up as strategic progress," said Craig Singleton, senior director of the China program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
Trump's leverage over China is largely based on his ability to impose tariffs, which has been a key feature of US-China trade policy. However, Xi's government has shown itself to be willing to withstand pressure from Washington, and has taken steps to reduce its dependence on US technology and investment.
The meeting between Trump and Xi was seen as an opportunity for both leaders to manage the volatility in their relationship and stabilize the global economy. However, it is unclear whether the agreement will hold long-term or whether tensions will escalate once again.
As Trump returns to Washington and Xi prepares to meet with regional leaders in South Korea, analysts are watching closely to see if the two leaders can build on the momentum of their talks and create a more stable relationship between the US and China.
The decision came after a 100-minute meeting between the two leaders in South Korea, where they discussed various trade issues and agreed to allow China to export rare earth elements and increase its purchases of American soybeans. The US will lower its tariffs on Chinese goods from 57% to 47%, with the rate on chemicals used to make fentanyl reduced from 20% to 10%.
Trump expressed optimism about the prospects for a trade deal, saying he would sign it "pretty soon", but cautioned that there is still work to be done. Xi, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two countries, urging them to take a long-term perspective and avoid falling into a cycle of mutual retaliation.
Despite Trump's upbeat assessment, tensions between the US and China remain a significant issue. Both nations are engaged in a fierce competition for economic and technological supremacy, and their trade relationship has been marked by periods of tension and volatility.
The latest agreement is seen as a tentative step forward, but experts warn that it may not last long. "The proposed deal on the table fits the pattern we've seen all year: short-term stabilization dressed up as strategic progress," said Craig Singleton, senior director of the China program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
Trump's leverage over China is largely based on his ability to impose tariffs, which has been a key feature of US-China trade policy. However, Xi's government has shown itself to be willing to withstand pressure from Washington, and has taken steps to reduce its dependence on US technology and investment.
The meeting between Trump and Xi was seen as an opportunity for both leaders to manage the volatility in their relationship and stabilize the global economy. However, it is unclear whether the agreement will hold long-term or whether tensions will escalate once again.
As Trump returns to Washington and Xi prepares to meet with regional leaders in South Korea, analysts are watching closely to see if the two leaders can build on the momentum of their talks and create a more stable relationship between the US and China.
. Like they're just patching up the surface without really addressing the underlying issues. I mean, Trump's all hyped about it, but what's the real plan here? Is he just gonna keep on talking and pretending everything is fine? 
It feels like we've been in this cycle of ups and downs with China for years now... can't they just find a way to work together without making us feel like we're constantly being played 
. I'm not saying it's all bad, but let's not get too carried away here... 
think it's a good start for us trade deficit issues btw 
but china's still gonna keep doing its own thing 
and we'll just have to wait & see if this deal holds up 
don't wanna jinx it but i'm not holding my breath 
still, kudos to trump for trying to make a move 
hope xi keeps his end of the bargain too 
. I mean, can't they just sit down and have a calm conversation about how to move forward? The fact that they agreed on lowering tariffs is a good start, but let's not get too ahead of ourselves - it's all about short-term gains 
. And what about the environmental concerns surrounding China's rare earth element exports? 
Let's hope that this deal doesn't just grease the wheels for more exploitation 
.
yeah idk how she managed to get invited but anyway we were all about that K-pop life but let's talk trade deal 
️ anyway Trump's all optimistic and stuff saying he'll sign it soon 
but Craig Singleton is like "no girl, this deal is sketchy" 
has anyone else been following this? I've got a bad feeling about this... 
. It feels like a Band-Aid on a bullet wound – a temporary fix that won't address the underlying issues... or will it? 
. Cutting tariffs from 57% to 47% will definitely help both countries boost their economies, and I'm stoked to see them working together on things like rare earth elements and soybeans! 
The fact that they're talking about a long-term perspective is a good sign, maybe we'll finally see some progress on those tensions between the US and China 
. Of course, there are still challenges ahead, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this new deal to make a difference 
. Trump's tariffs were basically a way to get China to do what he wanted, but now that they're lowering them it feels like China's getting the better end of the deal 
and suddenly everyone's like "oh, let's be friends"? It's kinda cute, but also super suspicious. Like, why did Xi even agree to all this? Is he trying to appease Trump or just trying not to get on his bad side 
?
... I mean, what even is that scale? Did Trump just make it up on the spot? Because if so, that's kinda adorable 
. But for real though, this feels like a total temporary fix. Like, as soon as Trump forgets about China or gets distracted by something else, the whole thing will fall apart 
.
... And what's up with all these tariffs anyway? Can't they just talk it out like normal countries? 
I guess only time will tell if this latest deal sticks around 
Trump's willingness to lower tariffs is a good first step, but let's be real, it's just a Band-Aid on a much bigger problem 
The real test will be whether these "agreements" stick or if we're just seeing another round of temporary stability before things blow up again 
.
