U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to hold their first in-person meeting since Trump’s return to office, with escalating trade tensions and the ongoing fentanyl crisis topping a high-stakes agenda.
The White House confirmed President Trump’s bilateral meeting with President Xi for October 30 in Gyeongju, South Korea. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated the meeting will occur on the sidelines of the APEC Leaders’ Summit, scheduled for October 31 to November 1.
The upcoming discussions are expected to be dominated by trade disputes, particularly China’s export controls on rare earth minerals. Trump has threatened to impose a 100% tariff increase on Chinese imports starting in November if Beijing does not relax these controls.
China implemented new regulations on rare earth exports in October. These minerals are vital components for advanced technologies, including electric vehicles, smartphones, and military equipment.
Another critical issue for Trump is the trafficking of fentanyl precursors. He accused China of “holding the world hostage” and exhibiting a “very hostile” stance regarding the illicit drug, which causes numerous deaths in the United States.
President Trump expressed optimism about the talks. He said, “I will be meeting President Xi of China. We’ve set up a rather long meeting. We can deal with a lot of our questions and our questioning, and our tremendous assets all at the same time. I think something will get done.”
This encounter marks the first face-to-face conversation between the two leaders in several years, their last being at the G20 summit in 2019. They have engaged in at least three phone calls this year, including a September discussion concerning TikTok’s operations in the U.S.
The meeting in South Korea is part of a broader Asia tour for President Trump. His itinerary began with the ASEAN summit in Malaysia on October 26.
Beyond the China talks, Trump is scheduled for other significant engagements. These include bilateral discussions with Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung. He will also attend a leaders’ dinner.