The world watches closely as both leaders attempt to balance rivalry with necessity. (Image: Bloomberg.com)
For the first time in six years, US President Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping will meet in Busan. The high-stakes summit could reshape global power as both nations face growing trade frictions, conflicts abroad, and competition in technology.
Trump expressed optimism hours before the high-stakes meeting, writing on Truth Social, “Very much looking forward to my meeting with President Xi of China. It will take place in a few hours!” But beyond the cordial tone, the agenda is weighty — from tariffs and technology to war and security. Here’s what’s likely to shape the outcome of the Trump–Xi Busan Summit.
The main focus of the summit is the growing trade war between the U.S. and China. Trump has threatened to impose a 100% tariff on Chinese goods starting in November, increasing to 130% if a new agreement isn’t made. The temporary truce between the two nations expires on November 10, leaving both economies bracing for impact.
Both sides are likely to discuss plans for lowering tariffs and restarting economic talks. The agenda may also include rare earth exports—vital to global tech—and the fate of TikTok’s U.S. operations, still under review by regulators.
The Ukraine conflict is another focal point. The U.S. hopes China will use its influence over Moscow to push for a ceasefire or restrict Russia’s access to oil and dual-use technologies.
Experts say China is likely to proceed cautiously, preserving its sway over Moscow but avoiding open friction with the West. The U.S., for its part, considers Beijing’s cooperation vital to curbing the war’s economic and human costs.
China still regards Taiwan as an indivisible part of its nation, even as the U.S. upholds the One China framework while informally aiding Taipei. Xi is likely to warn Trump against any actions seen as endorsing Taiwan’s independence.
As Japan, South Korea, and Australia strengthen their defense partnerships with Washington, Indo-Pacific security is set to take center stage. The Busan Summit may define new norms for military collaboration and regional stability in Asia.
The US continues to face a deadly fentanyl epidemic, and Washington blames much of the supply on Chinese chemical exports.
China’s foreign ministry has expressed “sympathy for the fentanyl crisis suffered by the American people” and hinted at cooperation. If China demonstrates quantifiable progress in limiting the manufacture and export of precursor chemicals, the US may take into consideration some tariff reduction in exchange.
This is one of the few topics where both nations see potential for genuine collaboration.
The US may consider lowering tariffs in exchange if China shows measurable progress in restricting the production and export of precursor chemicals.
Beijing sees Nvidia’s plans to expand AI chip exports as a positive sign. Still, Washington remains cautious, linking such cooperation to national security concerns. Limited progress — rather than a breakthrough — is expected here.
Trump has hinted at a historic inclusion of nuclear arms control in the talks — potentially the first formal US-China dialogue on arms limitation.
The move could influence not just global non-proliferation efforts but also North Korea’s growing missile program. Trump has suggested that deeper coordination with Beijing could reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula and stabilize the broader region.
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The Trump–Xi Busan Summit is more than just diplomacy—it’s a measure of whether two competing superpowers can share global space without clashing. Whatever its outcome, the effects will reverberate through global trade, technology, and security systems.
