By Hannah Parry, Robert Birsel, and Amanda Castro
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
U.S. President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea on Wednesday evening (Thursday morning local time). The two world leaders sat down together amid a fierce trade war between the world's two largest economies. However, Trump said afterward that the meeting had been "truly great." China will work with the U.S. to help end the war in Ukraine, Trump said. He said he would cut tariffs on China, while Beijing had agreed to allow the export of rare earth elements and start buying American soybeans.
Their talks lasted about one hour and 40 minutes.
What To Know
- Trump announces a possible Alaska oil and gas deal with China.
- Trump said he is cutting tariffs on China by 10 percent in response to strong Chinese action on fentanyl, and the "roadblock" to Chinese rare earth exports has been cleared under a one-year deal he is confident will be extended.
- Trump said Xi pledged “strong action” against the export of fentanyl precursor chemicals, including prosecutions, as part of a broader agreement aimed at curbing the deadly opioid crisis that has claimed nearly 450,000 American lives.
- China and the United States "reached consensus" on problems, Chinese state media said.
- Trump said China will resume buying soybeans, but he gave no details.
- Trump said it had not been possible to meet the North Korean leader on this visit but he would be ready to come back for a meeting.
This live blog is now closed.
Oct 30, 2025 at 08:14 AM EDT
Trump-Xi agreement resets ties but leaves core issues untouched
President Donald Trump praised his recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping as “amazing” and rated it a “12 out of 10.” Still, the outcome appears to be a temporary pause in a long-running trade conflict rather than a comprehensive breakthrough.
The agreement reached in Busan largely resets relations to their pre-escalation status, before Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff offensive. However, key structural issues—such as China’s industrial policies, manufacturing overcapacity, and export-driven growth—were notably absent from the talks.
Analysts say the deal highlights a persistent gap between U.S. demands and China’s strategic offerings. Xi’s approach, marked by swift retaliatory measures like export controls, has proven resilient against U.S. pressure. “China’s strategy of never striking first but always striking back has been vindicated,” said Joe Mazur of Trivium China.
Chinese officials reportedly viewed the summit as a tactical step, not a reset, and welcomed Trump’s conciliatory tone. The truce offers short-term relief: Trump gains momentum ahead of his April visit to Beijing, while China sees some easing of tariff burdens. Still, the underlying tensions remain unresolved.
Oct 30, 2025 at 07:25 AM EDT
Trump says Taiwan not discussed in talks with Xi
President Donald Trump confirmed that Taiwan was not a topic during his recent discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping, despite speculation that the issue might surface. Some analysts had expressed concern that Trump could offer concessions on Taiwan, a self-governed democracy that Beijing claims as its own territory.
Under U.S. law, Washington is obligated to support Taiwan’s defense capabilities. However, since taking office earlier this year, Trump has shown inconsistency in his stance toward the island and has not yet authorized new arms sales to Taipei.
Meanwhile, Chinese state media reported that H-6K bombers conducted "confrontation drills" near Taiwan on Sunday, signaling heightened military activity in the region.
Oct 30, 2025 at 07:11 AM EDT
Also in the news: Kremlin responds warily to Trump’s nuclear testing remarks
The Kremlin offered a measured response to President Donald Trump’s recent comments suggesting the United States may resume nuclear weapons testing. Russian officials emphasized that Moscow has not conducted any such tests but warned that it would reconsider its stance if Washington breaks the longstanding moratorium.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Russia had received no prior notice of a shift in U.S. policy and expressed surprise at Trump’s claim that other nations were already testing nuclear arms. “Until now, we didn’t know that anyone was testing,” Peskov said.
He clarified that recent Russian trials of the Burevestnik cruise missile and the Poseidon nuclear-powered torpedo were not nuclear weapons tests. Peskov also downplayed concerns of a renewed arms race, stating, “Not really,” when asked if Trump’s remarks signaled such a development.
Referencing President Vladimir Putin’s longstanding position, Peskov reiterated that Russia would respond in kind if another country resumed nuclear testing. “If someone departs from the moratorium, Russia will act accordingly,” he said.
Russia has not tested a nuclear weapon since the Soviet Union’s final test in 1990. The United States last tested in 1992, and China followed in 1996.
Oct 30, 2025 at 05:43 AM EDT
Trump Says US and China to Work Together to End Ukraine War
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on the way back to Washington, Trump said China and the U.S. would work together to end the war in Ukraine.
"Ukraine came up very strongly. We talked about it for a long time, and we're both going to work together to see if we can get something done," he said.
"[Xi Jinping] is going to help us, and we're going to work together on Ukraine."
Oct 30, 2025 at 05:34 AM EDT
China Reacts to Trump’s Nuclear Weapons Tests Order
China has responded to U.S. President Donald Trump ordering the defense department to resume testing nuclear weapons “on an equal basis” with Russia and China.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that China hopes the U.S. will abide by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and maintain its commitment to suspend nuclear tests, China's state-run Global Times newspaper reported.
Read in full: China Reacts to Trump’s Nuclear Weapons Tests Order
Oct 30, 2025 at 04:53 AM EDT
Trump hails ‘truly great’ meeting with China’s Xi
President Donald Trump outlined the highlights of his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday in a post on his Truth Social site.
“I had a truly great meeting with President Xi of China…We agreed on many things, with others, even of high importance, being very close to resolved,” he said.
“I was extremely honored by the fact that President Xi authorized China to begin the purchase of massive amounts of Soybeans, Sorghum, and other Farm products. Our Farmers will be very happy!”
“Additionally, China has agreed to continue the flow of Rare Earth, Critical Minerals, Magnets, etc., openly and freely,” Trump said.
“Very significantly, China has strongly stated that they will work diligently with us to stop the flow of Fentanyl into our Country. They will help us end the Fentanyl Crisis.”
“China also agreed that they will begin the process of purchasing American Energy. In fact, a very large scale transaction may take place concerning the purchase of Oil and Gas from the Great State of Alaska. "
“The agreements reached today will deliver Prosperity and Security to millions of Americans,” the president said.
...
Oct 30, 2025 at 04:38 AM EDT
China says G7 should not undermine global trade with rare earth alliance
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said the G7 group of major economies including the United States should not undermine international trade by forming a critical minerals production alliance to counter China’s dominance of the sector.
“We urge the G7 to earnestly abide by market economy principles and international trade rules, to stop undermining the international economic and trade order through small circle-based rules, and to work together to maintain the stable and sustainable development of the world’s economy,” the spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, told a briefing.
Guo was responding to a question about reports that the G7 members are set to announce their alliance, China’s Global Times newspaper reported.
China controls about 70 percent of rare earth mining and 90 percent of separation and processing and its recent steps to restrict their export has created alarm in developed economies, which are now scrambling to find alternative sources.
Earlier on Thursday, President Donald Trump met Chinese leader Xi Jinping for talks in South Korea and teh U.S. president later told reporters that China had agreed to free up the export of the vital minerals, under a one-year deal that Trump said he was confident would be extended.
Trump said the “roadblock” to China’s rare earth exports had been cleared.
The Chinese government has yet to comment on any new agreement with the United States on rare earths.
Oct 30, 2025 at 04:10 AM EDT
Xi told Trump China is not challenging anyone, state media
Chinese President Xi Jinping told President Donald Trump that China had no intention of challenging any other country and it is focusing on its own economic growth, Chinese state media reported after the two leaders met for talks in South Korea.
“We have no intention to challenge or supplant anyone,” the Xinhua news agency quoted Xi as telling Trump.
“Our focus has always been on managing China's own affairs well, improving ourselves, and sharing development opportunities with all countries across the world, and that is an important secret to our success,” he said.
Chinese state media made no mention of any new agreements between the leaders in their talks, but reported Xi explaining China’s plans for its development.
“China will further deepen reform across the board, expand opening-up, and promote higher-quality economic growth while achieving an appropriate increase in economic output, and advance well-rounded human development and common prosperity for all,” Xi said.
Xi said he believed that this will also expand the space for cooperation between China and the United States.
...
Oct 30, 2025 at 03:49 AM EDT
China buys first U.S. soybeans in months on eve of Trump-Xi talks
China bought its first shipments in months of U.S. soybeans on the eve of President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday, illustrating what Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins called Trump’s ‘strong dealmaking.’
Trump confirmed after his talks with Xi in Busan, South Korea, that China was resuming its purchases of U.S. soybeans.
“This purchase, coming directly ahead of the Trump-Xi talks, shows that America means business and that we will restore balance, give U.S. producers the opportunities they’ve earned, and send a message that when America leads in agriculture, the world listens,” Rollins said in a post on X.
China stopped buying U.S. soybeans early this year in response to Trump’s tariffs.
Today’s purchase by China of multiple ships of American soybeans signals @POTUS’ strong dealmaking and a positive step forward for our farmers.
This purchase, coming directly ahead of the Trump-Xi talks, shows that America means business and that we will restore balance, give…
— Secretary Brooke Rollins (@SecRollins) October 29, 2025
Oct 30, 2025 at 03:20 AM EDT
Trump confident of extensions of one-year deal on rare earths
President Donald Trump said he is confident a one-year trade deal he agreed with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday, under which China will continue to export rare earths, will be extended year after year.
“We have a deal. Now every year we’ll renegotiate the deal but I think the deal will go on for a long time, long beyond the year. We’ll negotiate at the end of the year but all of the rare earth has been settled,” he told reporters on Air Force One as he flew home to Washington.
“So we continue to produce the rare earths and buy the rare earths, and everything else, but China is, that whole situation, that roadblock is gone now. There’s no roadblock at all on rare earths,” he said.
Oct 30, 2025 at 03:02 AM EDT
China and U.S. ‘reach consensus’ on problems, Chinese media reports
China and the United States “have reached consensus on solutions to problems,” President Xi Jinping told President Donald Trump in their talks on Thursday, Chinese state media reported.
“Economic and trade teams of China and the United States held in-depth talks and reached consensus on solutions to problems,” the Xinhua news agency quoted Xi as saying after the talks in South Korea.
Xi said economic and trade interactions “should remain ballast and driver of ties, not obstacles or sources of conflict.”
The Chinese leader also called on both sides to “focus on long-term benefits brought by cooperation rather than falling into vicious cycle of retaliation,” Xinhua reported.
Xi said economic and trade teams of both sides should constantly narrow down the list of problems, and extend the list of cooperation based on the principles of equality, respect and mutual benefit, Xinhua reported.
Oct 30, 2025 at 02:35 AM EDT
Trump says China’s rare earth exports will continue
President Donald Trump said China will continue to export its rare earths under a one-year trade deal extension.
“All of the rare earth has been settled,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One after talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea
“And that’s for the world, worldwide, you could say this was a worldwide situation, not just a U.S. situation."
Rare earth elements are critical inputs for semiconductor manufacturing, electric vehicles and advanced defense platforms such as F-35 fighter jets and Tomahawk cruise missiles.
China has a near-monopoly over rare earths - accounting for an estimated 70 percent of the world's supply, a similar share of America’s imports and dominating roughly 90 percent of global processing capacity.
China imposed export controls on seven of the 17 elements in April and then on October 9 it expanded its restrictions, adding five new elements and processing equipment.
Under the new rules, due to come into force on November 8, foreign firms will also be required to secure government approval before exporting magnets and certain semiconductor materials that contain even trace elements of Chinese-source rare earths.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer described the new restrictions as “an exercise in economic coercion” that would grant China “control over basically the entire global economy and the technology supply chain.”
...
Oct 30, 2025 at 02:21 AM EDT
Trump says China will talk to Nvidia about chips
President Donald Trump said China would speak to U.S. chipmaker Nvidia about buying their computer chips.
“We make great chips,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he flew home from South Korea after talks there with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
China’s talks with the company would not include the next-generation Blackwell AI chip, “but a lot of the chips,” Trump said, according to the Associated Press.
Sales of the U.S. firm's high-end AI chips to China have been a sticking point in protracted trade talks between the world's two largest economies.
China has been angered by U.S. export controls that ban Nvidia from selling its most advanced AI chips to China. The U.S. has justified the restrictions, saying the Chinese military would use them to increase its capabilities.
...
Oct 30, 2025 at 02:09 AM EDT
Trump said he had ‘very nice’ talks with Canada’s Carney
President Donald Trump said he had “a very nice conversation” with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum summit in South Korea.
Trump had earlier said he would not meet Carney for a long time amid a dispute over an anti-tariff advertisement.
“We had a very nice conversation with him last night,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he flew home from his South Korean visit, which included talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier on Thursday.
Trump said on Saturday he was imposing an additional 10 percent tariff on Camdian imports and halting trade talks in response to an ad against tariffs that featured clips of former President Ronald Reagan run by Ontario's provincial government, led by Premier Doug Ford.
Carney, speaking at a regional conference in Malaysia this week, said the U.S. and Canada "made considerable progress" in the talks until Ontario's ad campaign, and he was redy to resume the trade talks when the United mStes wanted to.
"From the perspective of the federal government, which I'm responsible, we stand ready to pick up on those discussions when the United States wishes to pick up on those discussions," Carney said.
...
Oct 30, 2025 at 01:47 AM EDT
Trump says ‘I’d come back’ to meet North Korea’s Kim
President Donald Trump said it had not been possible to meet the North Korean leader on his visit to South Korea this week but he would be ready to come back for a meeting.
Trump was in South Korea for a summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and for talks earlier on Thursday with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Before the trip, Trump had signaled his readiness to meet Kim, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has also said he would be open to a meeting, as long as the denuclearization of North Korea was not discussed.
“We were never able to talk,” Trump said when a reporter on Air Force One asked him about the North Korean leader.
“Look, I was so busy and really, this is why we came,” he said, referring to his talks with Xi.
“I think it would have been maybe disrespectful to the importance of this meeting if we did that,” he said, referring to setting up a meeting with KIm.
“I’d come back, with respect to Kim Jong Un, I’d come back,” Trump said.
Trump held unprecedented talks with Kim during the U.S. president’s first term, meeting three times though failing to make any progress on pushing North Korea to give up its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
“I had a great relationship with Kim Jong Un. I think, if i didn’t get elected…we would have had a big war, it could have been a very bad war too,” he said, referring to his 2016 election victory.
...
Oct 30, 2025 at 01:32 AM EDT
Trump says U.S. he is discussing denuclearization with Russia
President Donald Trump said on Thursday he would like to see denuclearization and the United States is talking to Russia about that possibility.
Just before a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea earlier on Thursday, Trump announced that the U.S. will immediately begin testing nuclear weapons.
The president said in a post to Truth Social he has ordered the Department of Defense to launch the tests because of other powerhouse nations' nuclear programs.
On Air Force One on his way home from South Korea after his meeting with Xi, Trump was asked by a reporter if the world was entering a more dangerous environment.
“No I don’t think so, I think we have it pretty well locked up,” Trump said. “We have more than anybody but I see them testing and I say ‘well, if they’re going to test, I guess we have to test’.”
“I’d like to see a denuclearization because we have so many and Russia is second and China is third and China will catch up in four or five years," he said.
"I think de-escalation would be, they would call it denuclearization, would be a tremendous thing," Trump said.
"And it's something we are actually talking to Russia about that. And China would be added to that if we do something."
Oct 30, 2025 at 01:20 AM EDT
Trump says his meeting with Xi was ‘a 12’ out of 10
President Donald Trump said his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday was “very friendly” and “a great success.”
“Overall, l guess on a scale of zero to 10 with 10 being the best, I would say the meeting was a 12,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he flew home to Washington.
“The whole relationship is very important, I think it was very good…It was a great success and a great honor,” he said.
Oct 30, 2025 at 01:10 AM EDT
Trump says he and Xi did not discuss Taiwan
President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping did not discuss the self-ruled Island of Taiwan, which China claims, in their talks in South Korea on Thursday, Trump told reporters.
“Taiwan never came up, it was not discussed,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he flew home to Washington.
Oct 30, 2025 at 01:00 AM EDT
Trump says cutting China tariffs because of strong action on fentanyl
President Donald Trump said China was taking strong action to stop the ingredients for the drug fentanyl being sent to the United States and he was cutting tariffs on China by 10 percent in response.
“It was 57 (percent) now it’s 47 (percent) because we reduced it by, the Fentanyl, I believe they are really taking very strong action, we’ve already seen the action on fentanyl,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One after talks in South Korea with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Trump said his talks with Xi were “a great success” and China was also in resuming U.S. soybean purchases and keeping rare earths exports flowing.
Oct 30, 2025 at 12:48 AM EDT
Trump to visit China in April
President Donald Trump will visit China in April.
“I will be going to China in April and he’ll be coming here some time after that,” Trump he told reporters on Air Force One after his talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping at a military base in Busan, South Korea on Thursday.
He said his talks with Xi were very friendly and on a scale of one to 10, the meeting was a 12.
Oct 30, 2025 at 12:22 AM EDT
Air Force One takes off from South Korea
President Donald Trump left South Korea minutes after his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping ended in Busan, South Korea, on Thursday.
The meeting lasted one hour and 40 minutes, Chinese state media said.
After a handshake and last words with Xi on the steps of their talks venue at a military base, Trump drove to Air Force One on the tarmac at a nearby airport and climbed the steps to his plane.
Minutes later Air Force One took off for Washington.
Xi has a much shorter flight back to Beijing.
...
Oct 30, 2025 at 12:06 AM EDT
Meeting between Trump and Xi is over
The meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping is over.
The two shook hands and Trump said something in Xi's ear. They then walked down some steps, got into their cars and drove off.
Trump drove straight to Air Force One on nearby tarmac and boarded for his flight back to Washington.
...
Oct 29, 2025 at 11:56 PM EDT
Just before the meeting, Trump made nuclear announcement
Just before his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. will immediately begin testing nuclear weapons.
The president said in a post to Truth Social he has ordered the Department of Defense to launch the tests because of other powerhouse nations' nuclear programs.
"The United States has more Nuclear Weapons than any other country," Trump wrote, adding, "This was accomplished, including a complete update and renovation of existing weapons, during my First Term in office."
Trump, asked by a reporter about the decision after he and Xi made opening comments in their meeting, declined to answer.
Oct 29, 2025 at 11:46 PM EDT
Trump and Xi have their top officials in their talks
President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have been joined by top officials in their talks at a military bae in Busan, South Korea, on Thursday.
Joining Xi is Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Cai Qi, Xi’s top aide and the fifth-ranked leader on the Chinese Communist Party’s Politburo Standing Committee.
Also in Xi’s team is Zheng Shanjie, chairman of China's economic state planning agency, and Commerce Minister Wang Wentao.
Trump is joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, U.S. ambassador to China David Perdue and White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles.
...
Oct 29, 2025 at 11:33 PM EDT
Trump and Xi could reach a deal on TikTok
President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping could reach a deal on TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, in their talks in South Korea on Thursday after a months-long back-and-forth over the app, its algorithm, and parameters for operation in the U.S.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on the weekend the United States “ironed out” the details of a TikTok deal in talks with Chinese negotiators.
U.S. interest in TikTok’s ownership stem from national-security concerns. The first Trump administration raised concerns about the app and its ownership, seeking to ban it.
Then-President Joe Biden gave a January 2025 deadline for a deal to be reached, or the app be shut down in the U.S. Trump, when he returned to office this year, said he wanted to secure an agreement and delayed the ban, keeping the app online temporarily.
TikTok has widespread influence in the U.S., with about 43 percent of U.S. adults younger than 30 say they regularly get news from TikTok, a higher percentage than any other social media app, including YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, according to a Pew Research Center report published on September 25.
In late September, Trump signed an executive order titled “Saving TikTok While Protecting National Security” that outlines a framework, but public specifics over ownership remain sparse.
Under the terms of the deal earlier revealed by the White House, the app will be spun off into a new U.S. joint venture owned by a consortium of American investors—including Oracle and investment firm Silver Lake Partners.
The investment group’s total stake would be around 80 percent, while ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, is expected to have a 20 percent stake in the entity. The board running the new platform would be controlled by U.S. investors. ByteDance would be represented by one person on the board, but they would be excluded from any security matters or related committees.
Oct 29, 2025 at 11:04 PM EDT
IN PICTURES: Trump and Xi meet in South Korea
...
...
...
...
...
Oct 29, 2025 at 10:52 PM EDT
Trump and Xi meet for the first time in more than six years
Thursday’s meeting is the first time President Donald Trump has met Chinese leader Xi Jinping since June 29, 2019, when they held talks in Osaka, Japan, on the sidelines of a G20 meeting.
In 2019, they touched on many of the same issues in their more than one hour of talks that they are expected to tackle on Thursday, with trade at the top of the agenda.
"We are back on track," Trump told reporters more than six years ago after he and Xi agreed to resume stalled trade talks.
Trump promised to hold off on a threat of new 25 percent tariffs on $300 billion in Chinese imports, and he agreed to lift some restrictions on the Chinese technology giant Huawei.
China agreed to buy a “tremendous amount” of American food and agricultural products in exchange Trump said at the time.
Oct 29, 2025 at 10:45 PM EDT
Opening remarks from Trump, Xi in South Korea
President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with their delegations across a conference table on the sidelines of an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea.
“It’s a great honor to be with a friend of mine...the very, very distinguished and respected president of China,” Trump said.
“We will be having some discussions, I think we’ve already agreed to a lot of things and we'll be agreeing to some more right now,” he said.
“I think we’re going to have a fantastic relationship for a long period of time,” he said.
Xi, speaking through an interpreter, said it was a great pleasure for him, too, to meet Trump.
“It feels very warm seeing you again because it has been many years,” Xi said.
“Given our different national conditions, we do not always see eye to eye,” Xi said.
“It is normal for the two leading economies of the world to have friction now and then,” Xi said, adding:
that he and Trump should “stay the right course” on bilateral relations.
“I always believe that China's development goes hand in hand with your vision to make America great again,” Xi said.
“Our two countries are fully able to help each other succeed and prosper together.”
“China and the United States should be partners and friends. This is what history has taught us and what reality demands.”
Xi said their economic and trade teams had "reached basic consensus” on major concerns and made "encouraging progress."
“This provided the necessary conditions for our meeting today,” Xi said.
“I am ready to continue working with you to build a solid foundation for China-US relations,” Xi said.
Xi said he appreciated Trump’s work on the Gaza ceasefire and said he and Trump should jointly shoulder responsibilities and work together to the good of the whole world.
...
Oct 29, 2025 at 10:20 PM EDT
Trump and Xi meet in South Korea
President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping began their long-anticipated in-person meeting in South Korea.
"We've already agreed to a lot of things," Trump said in opening remarks.
Oct 29, 2025 at 08:48 PM EDT
Focus on rare earths
Rare earth elements are critical inputs for semiconductor manufacturing, electric vehicles and advanced defense platforms such as F-35 fighter jets and Tomahawk cruise missiles.
China now has a near-monopoly over rare earths - accounting for an estimated 70 percent of the world's supply, a similar share of America’s imports and dominating roughly 90 percent of global processing capacity.
China imposed export controls on seven of the 17 elements in April and then on October 9 it expanded its restrictions, adding five new elements and processing equipment.
Under the new rules, which are due to come into force on November 8, foreign firms will also be required to secure government approval before exporting magnets and certain semiconductor materials that contain even trace elements of Chinese-source rare earths.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer described the new restrictions as “an exercise in economic coercion” that would grant China “control over basically the entire global economy and the technology supply chain.”
Oct 29, 2025 at 07:25 PM EDT
What to know about Trump’s meeting with China’s leader
Former President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet on October 30, in Busan, South Korea, on the sidelines of the APEC Summit — their first face-to-face encounter in six years. The meeting is expected to begin around 11 a.m. Korea Standard Time (KST), which is 10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on October 29 in the U.S. The talks come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing over trade, technology, and geopolitical influence.
According to reports from Reuters and AP, the agenda will focus on trade and tariffs, technology and supply chains, and China’s role in the global fentanyl crisis. Trump is expected to push for renewed Chinese purchases of American agricultural goods, while Xi may seek relief from U.S. trade restrictions and technology bans. Broader strategic issues — including China’s ties to Russia, North Korea’s missile program, and stability in the Taiwan Strait — are also likely to feature prominently.
The meeting is viewed as an opportunity to reset strained U.S.–China relations, though few analysts expect major breakthroughs. Both leaders are under pressure to show progress without appearing to compromise on core interests.
Oct 29, 2025 at 07:15 PM EDT
What time zone is South Korea in?
South Korea has one time zone, Korea Standard Time (UTC+9), which is abbreviated KST.
That puts it 13 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, meaning if it is 7 p.m. ET in New York City, it is 8 a.m. KST in South Korea.
Oct 29, 2025 at 07:12 PM EDT
When is Trump meeting with Xi Jinping?
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet 10 p.m. Wednesday ET (11 a.m. Thursday local time) on the sidelines of the Asia‑Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Busan, South Korea.
...
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines