1:44A handshake between China’s President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump is captured prior to a bilateral discussion at the G20 Summit in Osaka, June 29, 2019. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
This Friday, President Donald Trump is set to journey to Asia for a weeklong series of engagements with leading figures from three different nations, with a key objective being to finalize a commerce agreement with China’s President Xi Jinping — in the hopes of bringing a conclusion to a trade conflict that has stretched on for several months.
President Donald Trump on September 18, 2025 and Chinese President Xi Jinping September 1, 2025.AFP/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Solidifying a Trade Agreement with China
Trump is slated to convene with his Chinese counterpart in South Korea this Thursday, marking the concluding day of his international sojourn.
This past summer, relations between the U.S. and China observed a certain degree of easing as import taxes were reduced alongside ongoing commercial deliberations. However, recent escalations arose when China communicated stricter export regulations on uncommon earth elements, merely weeks ahead of the planned leadership summit.
The Trump governing body perceives these broadened limitations, impacting countries across the globe, as wielding a significant influence on worldwide manufacturing. Prominent economic advisors within Trump’s team have portrayed these export restrictions as "economic pressure" and "coercion."
President Donald Trump speaks during a roundtable on criminal cartels in the State Dining Room of the White House, Oct. 23, 2025, in Washington.Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
He countered with a threat to impose an escalated 100% import duty on goods from China, programmed to activate on November 1, should his discourse with Xi not yield favorable outcomes.
Regardless, his stance has appeared optimistic, expressing his anticipation "to be successful in negotiating an advantageous agreement" when engaging with Xi. It has been mentioned that their talks are also intended to address China’s procurement of U.S. soybeans, along with discussions on atomic subjects.
Other Global Leaders
Apart from the meeting with Xi, Trump is planning to converse with several other Asian leaders affiliated with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). He also has a scheduled bilateral discussion with Malaysia’s prime minister, Anwar bin Ibrahim, in Kuala Lumpur, early in his itinerary.
Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a press conference at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo, Oct. 21, 2025.Eugene Hoshiko/AP, Pool
Trump will then proceed to Japan where he is expected to engage with Japan’s freshly appointed prime minister, Sanae Takaichi. Takaichi, known for her conservative politics, marks the nation’s inaugural female head of state. Even though a trade pact between the U.S. and Japan is already in effect, the discourse will emphasize this specific facet of the relationship between the two countries.
On Wednesday, Trump also has plans to journey to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. While present, Trump is arranged to conduct a bilateral dialogue with the president of the Republic of Korea, present pivotal remarks at the APEC CEO luncheon, and engage in an APEC working dinner.
The visit happens after considerable strain between South Korea and the U.S., following the detention and deportation of over 400 South Korean laborers at a Hyundai production site in Georgia, resulting from Trump’s reinforced immigration regulations.
This followed Hyundai’s extensive investments in the plant, aligning with Trump’s ambition of fostering manufacturing within America to circumvent the severest effects of Trump’s tariff policies.
This event triggered uncertainties regarding the capacity of organizations to import workers into the U.S. for the establishment and administration of production facilities, free from similar occurrences. Trump’s appearance may present an opportunity to alleviate anxieties among these entities, as he persists in soliciting investments within the U.S.
Canada’s Prime Minister, Mark Carney, is also anticipated to participate in APEC and the other Asian engagements. A prominent economic adviser to Trump mentioned that Trump and Carney will engage in conversations regarding their recent disagreements over tariffs.
Shortly before his departure for Asia, Trump unexpectedly halted commerce discussions with Canada, citing discontent over a television advertisement promoted by Ontario showcasing Ronald Reagan in 1987, critiquing tariffs. Trump alleged that this was an attempt to "illegally sway" the U.S. Supreme Court, set to evaluate arguments the following month concerning his authority to unilaterally levy tariffs.
Additionally, his tour comes in the immediate wake of imposing further sanctions on Russian oil conglomerates and his continued urgings for allies to diminish their acquisition of Russian oil.
On Thursday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt communicated that these sanctions are already exerting influence, with China and India "curtailing" their contractual obligations.
While Trump is familiar with both APEC and ASEAN conventions, having attended numerous during his initial term, this visit signifies his first substantial gathering with Asian figureheads during his second tenure, as they endeavor to navigate his often erratic alterations in trade protocols and foreign affairs.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
