US president Trump to Meet his Chinese counterpart Xi in South Korea as Part of Asia Swing, with Trade War and Fentanyl Crisis Dominating the Agenda in Seoul, South Korea
United States President Donald Trump is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on October 30 on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea, the White House confirmed today.
The high-stakes bilateral meeting, which will take place during the final leg of President Trump’s multi-nation Asia swing, has drawn intense global scrutiny as the world’s two largest economies grapple with escalating trade tensions and a bitter dispute over the fentanyl crisis.
The summit, which will mark the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since 2019, is widely seen as a pivotal moment to either de-escalate or deepen the current trade conflict, which saw a recent flare-up following Beijing’s expansion of export restrictions on rare-earth minerals.
Headline Points
• Summit Confirmed: President Trump and President Xi Jinping will hold a bilateral meeting on October 30 in Busan, South Korea, coinciding with the APEC CEO Summit.
• Fentanyl First: President Trump stated that the illegal flow of fentanyl precursor chemicals from China will be the first and most critical topic he raises with President Xi.
• Trade Tension Focus: The meeting is aimed at calming renewed trade tensions and addressing core issues, including US tariffs, China’s rare-earth mineral restrictions, and US demands for China to increase purchases of agricultural products like soybeans.
• Three-Nation Tour: The meeting is the climax of President Trump’s Asia swing, which begins on Friday night with stops in Malaysia and Japan before concluding in South Korea.
• Seoul as Diplomatic Platform: South Korea is leveraging its role as the APEC host to serve as a crucial diplomatic platform, with President Lee Jae Myung scheduled to meet separately with both President Trump and President Xi.
Fentanyl and Tariffs Top the Agenda
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed President Trump’s itinerary, noting he will depart for Malaysia late Friday night before travelling to Tokyo for talks with Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and finally arriving in Busan, South Korea.
He will meet with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and address the APEC CEO Summit before his much-anticipated meeting with President Xi.
President Trump has made his priorities clear. Speaking to reporters yesterday, he declared that the fentanyl crisis—a leading cause of overdose deaths in the US—would be at the “front of the list.”
“The first question I’m going to be asking him about is fentanyl,” the President said, directly linking the issue to the ongoing trade war. “They make $100 million selling fentanyl into our country. They lose $100 billion with the 20% tariff. So it’s not a good business proposition.”
On the trade front, the possibility of a “deal” remains uncertain. President Trump has recently expressed cautious optimism about a resolution but has insisted on major concessions from Beijing, including a reduction in the flow of fentanyl ingredients and an end to export limits on rare-earth minerals critical to US technology manufacturing.
A Critical Diplomatic Platform
South Korea, through its role as host for the APEC events in the city of Gyeongju, is positioning itself as an essential diplomatic convener.
The country’s top security adviser stated that hosting separate summits with President Trump and President Xi will not only elevate South Korea’s diplomatic stature but will also help “build consensus for peace, prosperity, and stability in the region.”
The convergence of the world’s two most powerful leaders in South Korea underscores the region’s geopolitical significance, with discussions expected to touch upon regional security issues, including the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
As both sides prepare for the face-to-face talks, global markets and capitals are watching closely, hoping for an agreement that can halt the economic uncertainty created by the escalating trade war.
