US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Busan for nearly 100 minutes and emerged with a series of practical deals. The United States agreed to cut overall tariffs on Chinese goods from 57% to 47% and halve fentanyl-related levies to 10%. China committed to buying 25 million metric tons of US soybeans annually, starting with 12 million tons by January. Washington will suspend a recent Entity List expansion for one year to ease tech restrictions.

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in South Korea for high-level talks, their first meeting in six years. The discussion lasted around 100 minutes and focused on trade, economic cooperation, and regional stability.

Both sides described the talks as positive. Trump called the meeting “amazing,” while Chinese officials said it was “constructive.” The engagement is being seen as an effort by Washington and Beijing to ease tensions and reopen dialogue after years of strained relations.

Trade Measures and Soybean Commitment

The two leaders announced that the United States would reduce tariffs on Chinese goods from 57% to 47%. In particular, the so-called “fentanyl tariff” on Chinese imports would be lowered from 20% to 10%. In exchange, China committed to resuming purchases of US soybeans, specifically agreeing to buy around 25 million metric tons annually.

Other Trade Deals

The meeting also addressed rare earth minerals, a sector dominated by China and vital to advanced industries. Xi and Trump agreed that China will allow the continued export of rare earths to the United States for at least one year, postponing earlier restrictions. On the side of law enforcement, China agreed to intensify efforts to block precursor chemicals linked to fentanyl trafficking into the United States.

While trade was central, the conversation also touched on global matters. The leaders discussed the war in Ukraine and agreed to “work together” on it. However, several sensitive topics (such as Taiwan, advanced-chip access, and TikTok) were not publicly resolved. Trump announced that he plans to visit China in April, setting a timeline for further engagement.

Path Forward for US-China Relations

While no formal agreements were signed, the meeting is viewed as a step toward stabilising the world’s most significant bilateral relationship. Both leaders expressed interest in continued dialogue on trade, technology, and global issues such as climate policy.

The Busan meeting between Trump and Xi serves as a crucial step toward detente in one of the world’s most significant bilateral relationships. The tariff cuts, soybean purchases, and rare-earth agreement signal a shift in tone. Yet, many structural issues remain unresolved. The success of this initiative will depend on timely implementation and clarity of follow-through, said the tone of the meeting was practical and marked a shift toward cautious engagement.