Trump Seeks Trade Deal with Xi During Asia Trip
President Trump is on a five-day Asia trip to secure trade and ceasefire deals, with a possible meeting with China’s Xi Jinping amid rising U.S.-China trade tensions.
Trump Seeks Trade Deal with Xi During Asia Trip
AIR FORCE ONE, Oct 24 — U.S. President Donald Trump has embarked on a high-stakes trip to Asia, aiming to strike trade and ceasefire deals while facing mounting global tensions and skepticism over a potential meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Trump’s five-day tour includes stops in Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, his first visit to the region since taking office for a second term. His agenda features trade negotiations, talks on critical minerals, and efforts to secure a fragile ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The trip comes amid escalating U.S.-China trade tensions, with both countries threatening to restrict trade in key technologies and minerals. Trump hopes to reach an interim agreement with Xi that could involve limited tariff relief and renewed Chinese purchases of U.S. goods like soybeans and Boeing aircraft.
However, expectations remain low. U.S. officials have described the planned meeting as an informal “pull-aside,” and Beijing has yet to confirm whether the face-to-face will occur.
Trump will also meet newly elected Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who is expected to confirm $550 billion in Japanese investments in the U.S., and attend the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, where he could oversee a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia.
In South Korea, Trump is expected to raise issues including Taiwan, Chinese trade practices, and the detention of Hong Kong activist Jimmy Lai. He also left the door open to future dialogue with North Korea, though no meeting with Kim Jong Un is planned.
With tariffs on Chinese goods set to jump to 155% next month if talks fail, the outcome of Trump’s Asia trip could determine the future of U.S.-China relations.
