US President Donald Trump said that the United States and China are signing a trade deal today. He said that both sides have finalized key aspects of the trade deal, and efforts are on to develop understanding on some as-yet unsettled aspects of the trade pact.
Donald Trump stated this today in South Korea, where he signed a $350 billion trade deal with the South Korean government. Trump said the details of the agreement will be announced today.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a brief meeting on Thursday in South Korea, with neither side issuing an immediate comment on the progress made in resolving their long-running trade dispute.
Trade and Nuclear Testing Dominate Agenda
Before the talks, Trump praised Xi as a “very tough negotiator” and predicted a “fantastic relationship for a long period of time.” Minutes earlier, however, he had announced that he had instructed the Pentagon to resume nuclear weapons testing “on an equal basis” with China and Russia.
Trump’s statement broadened the stakes for the discussions, coming a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a new test of a nuclear-powered underwater drone. Xi, meanwhile, acknowledged the two countries’ differences but stressed the importance of cooperation, saying China and the US should “work together to accomplish more great and concrete things.”
Trade Concerns and Potential Concessions
The leaders discussed tariff reductions, rare earth exports, and agricultural trade, including possible Chinese purchases of American soybeans. Trump also hinted at reducing 20 percent tariffs on fentanyl-related goods, while Beijing could ease restrictions on US commodities to signal goodwill.
