TOKYO, JAPAN – OCTOBER 27: U.S. President Donald Trump disembarks Air Drive One as he arrives at Haneda Airport on October 27, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan.
Takashi Aoyama | Getty Photographs Information | Getty Photographs
U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned he expects to decrease fentanyl-linked tariffs on China forward of a much-anticipated assembly along with his Chinese language counterpart Xi Jinping in South Korea this week.
He advised reporters aboard the Air Drive One on Wednesday that fentanyl flows into the U.S. and “farmers” can be amongst subjects he expects to debate with Xi on Thursday.
When requested whether or not the potential one-year pause in Beijing’s implementation of uncommon earth export controls can be sufficient to attract extra concessions from the U.S., Trump mentioned “we’ve not talked in regards to the timing but however we’re gonna work out one thing.”
A fragile commerce detente between the world’s prime two economies that features decrease tariffs on one another’s items is nearing its expiration on Nov. 10, in the event that they fail to agree on one other extension. Trump has additionally threatened extra 100% tariffs on Beijing beginning Nov. 1.
Trump’s feedback got here after the Wall Road Journal’s report Tuesday that the U.S. may minimize the 20% fentanyl-related tariffs on Chinese language exports by half, in return for Beijing’s crack down on the export of chemical substances that make fentanyl.
If Washington have been to decrease the fentanyl-tariffs on Chinese language items to 10%, that will carry the common tariff on most Chinese language imports — at the moment round 55% — to about 45%.
On whether or not Taiwan can be on the agenda, Trump mentioned “I do not know if we’ll even talk about Taiwan. He might need to ask about it. There may be not that a lot to ask about it.”
The 2 leaders’ assembly comes as bilateral tensions have escalated within the latest weeks with Beijing turning up the warmth on uncommon earth export controls, drawing Washington to retaliate with port charges on Chinese language ships and threaten software-related export restrictions.
Trump is anticipated to satisfy Xi on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Financial Cooperation, or APEC, summit, in what can be their first in-person assembly since Trump’s return to the workplace in January. In a transient assertion final Friday, Chinese language overseas ministry mentioned that Xi pays a state go to to South Korea throughout Oct 30 to Nov. 1, with out mentioning a gathering with Trump.
On Wednesday, Trump referred to as the connection with China “superb,” saying that “we’re going to have an ideal assembly with China’s Xi.” The U.S. president kicked off his whirlwind Asia journey on Sunday, signing a flurry of commerce and mineral agreements with Southeast Asian leaders and most just lately Japan.
Possible outcomes from the Trump-Xi assembly embody Beijing’s assure of making certain the U.S. entry to uncommon earth gadgets underneath its export-control measures, purchases of Boeing plane, approval for the sale of TikTok’s U.S. operation and extra efforts on curbing fentanyl flows, in line with Neo Wang, China strategist at Evercore ISI.
In return, the U.S. may supply to loosen export controls on sure semiconductor gear and AI chips, roll again the 100% tariff risk, along with a discount of 10 share level within the fentanyl-linked tariffs, ranging from Nov. 10 as a part of a renewed tariff truce, Wang mentioned.
“We anticipate Beijing to present Trump a approach out on the fentanyl impasse, equivalent to by way of a brand new promise from Xi in particular person, to facilitate Trump’s discount on China fentanyl tariff, efficient no later than Nov. 10,” Wang added.
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