U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism about reaching a trade agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping during an upcoming meeting in South Korea scheduled for next week. For his part, Trump has signaled he is still optimistic on negotiations producing a positive result, telling the press, “I think we’ll make a deal.” This high-level meeting comes as both leaders look to strengthen bilateral relations at home while grappling with broader global economic headwinds.
In a call to NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte that was leaked to the press, Trump assured Rutte that he’d raise such concerns. In particular, he pointed to China’s extravagant purchases of Russian oil. The U.S. should make this a priority of any upcoming discussions with Xi. They are watching China’s oil and gas dealings with Russia with hawk eyes, since these would undermine the Western countries’ sanctions.
Along with trade talks, Trump said that there is space for an agreement on nuclear arms. He noted that previously Russian President Vladimir Putin has talked about de-escalation with regard to nuclear weapons. Trump hinted that China would be a welcome addition to any future deals between Moscow and Washington on nuclear weapons.
Trade is still one of the biggest issues on the docket, especially with regard to China’s past purchases of U.S. soybeans. Trump is still confident about the talks. He thinks these things could lead to an understanding that would allow China to resume its imports of American agricultural commodities that have been covered by tariffs and other barriers for years.
This third meeting marks a new phase in the evolving relationship between President Trump and Xi. Their last formal meeting was at Mar-a-Lago in 2017. Since then, President Trump and President Xi have both maneuvered through a confusing trade policy minefield of tariffs, restrictive measures, and diplomatic spats. Therefore, their conversations in South Korea present an opportunity to respond to these challenges directly and courageously.
This is no small feat and the global community will be watching closely. The meeting’s success or failure will undoubtedly shape the next chapter of international trade and security. Their leaders are moving quickly on important issues including energy purchases and nuclear disarmament. They need to advance their own national interests but look for ways to find cooperative solutions.