Korea hosts potential Trump–Xi meeting as US and China restrain trade tensions

Source: CHOSUNBIZ

By Kim Song-yi

Updated 2025.10.14 11:24

As the United States and China, which have been waging a trade war, have recently refrained from escalation, expectations are spreading in China that a U.S.-China summit will be held soon, the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on the 14th.

SCMP said that with U.S. momentum somewhat easing, opinion in China is building for a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. If this trend continues, there is a forecast that the U.S. and Chinese leaders could hold a separate meeting during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in Gyeongju, Korea, for two days starting on the 31st of this month.

Wu Xinbo, director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai, said, “If the next round of U.S.-China trade talks goes well, there is a high possibility of a meeting between President Xi and President Trump.” Wang Yiwei, a professor of international relations at Renmin University, also said, “The recent peak tensions between the United States and China could open the way for a U.S.-China summit on the sidelines of the Gyeongju APEC,” adding, “Essentially, compromise is reached through confrontation.”

U.S.-China tensions have recently risen and then somewhat eased. On the 10th (local time), the Trump administration announced an ultra-high tariff on China (an additional 100% on existing tariffs) and a card to control exports of key software, while China responded by halting imports of U.S. soybeans and strengthening controls on exports of rare-earth alloys.

In addition, as China has launched a hardline offensive by imposing a “special port service fee” of 400 yuan per net ton (about 80,000 won) on ships related to the United States and by controlling exports of high-end lithium-ion batteries and synthetic diamonds, the Trump administration’s offensive has somewhat softened.

SCMP reported that President Trump, who had threatened a 100% additional tariff on China and controls on exports of important software, said two days later on the 12th, in a tone softer than before, “We think we will get along well with China and have an excellent relationship with President Xi.”

There is also considerable expectation within the United States that a Trump-Xi summit will be held. The previous day, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview with Fox Business that President Trump is expected to meet President Xi in Korea.