Watch the world-stopping encounter between two superpower leaders: U.S. President Donald Trump meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in a side meeting at APEC on 30 Oct. What topics are expected to be discussed? The term "world-stopping match" implies a highly significant event between world powers.
The 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting will be held in Gyeongju, South Korea, from 30 Oct to 1 Nov 2025. The most closely watched event is the side meeting of the two global superpower leaders between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on 30 Oct.
This meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping will be their first face-to-face encounter since the 2019 G20 summit in Japan. However, the two leaders have held at least three phone discussions this year, including talks about the TikTok operational deal in the U.S. last September.
Amid intense trade tensions, China recently imposed stricter controls on rare earth exports, prompting the U.S. to respond with port fees and threats to restrict software exports to China. President Trump has also threatened to impose 100% tariffs on Chinese goods.
1. Reducing trade war tensions and tariff barriers
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on 26 Oct, after discussions with Chinese Vice Premier and trade negotiators, that China is expected to agree to increase soybean purchases from the U.S. and enhance cooperation to curb the inflow of fentanyl precursor chemicals. He also mentioned plans to finalize an agreement on the TikTok acquisition in the U.S.
Meanwhile, U.S. Trade Representative Jamison Greer told Fox News Sunday that both sides agreed to temporarily suspend certain punitive measures and found "a way forward together," including improved access to China's rare earth resources and efforts to balance the trade deficit by increasing U.S. exports.
As of 29 Oct, President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that topics for discussion with China include "farmers." When asked about exports of Nvidia's chips to China, "Blackwell," Trump replied, "I think we might talk about that with President Xi."
Trade between the U.S. and China has dropped significantly since Trump took office. Currently, the U.S. imposes average tariffs of 55% on Chinese goods, while China’s tariffs average 32% on U.S. products. The U.S. has blacklisted hundreds of Chinese firms citing security threats and banned exports of advanced chips and key AI-related manufacturing equipment.
China retaliated by designating dozens of U.S. companies as "unreliable entities," initiating antitrust investigations on Nvidia and Qualcomm, restricting exports of over ten rare earth and metal elements including gallium and dysprosium, and stopped buying U.S. soybeans since September, turning instead to Brazil and Argentina.
2. Rare earth minerals
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also expressed belief that China will postpone enforcement of rare earth export controls and that the U.S. will not implement the threatened 100% tariffs on China. He said talks with China are progressing and there will be a cooperation framework for the two leaders to discuss effectively.
When asked about China possibly postponing rare earth export restrictions for one year and whether the U.S. would concede, Trump replied, "We haven't talked about timing yet, but we will find a way to agree."
China controls over 90% of the global rare earth supply chain, vital for high-tech industries from electric vehicles to semiconductors and missiles.
3. Fentanyl
The U.S. faces a crisis of citizens addicted to painkillers, "fentanyl," and in February, Trump imposed a 20% tariff on Chinese goods, accusing China of failing to stop the export of fentanyl precursors to criminal groups that led to over 450,000 American overdose deaths.
Recently, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that the U.S. may reduce tariffs on fentanyl-related goods after China made efforts to curb precursor exports.
This interview aligns with a 28 Oct Wall Street Journal report stating the U.S. plans to reduce fentanyl-related tariffs on China from 20% to 10%. If implemented, the average tariff on Chinese goods would drop from 55% to 45%.
4. Taiwan
China adheres to the One-China principle, asserting Taiwan as part of its territory, though it has never governed or administered the island. Analysts believe China wants the U.S. to shift from "not supporting" to actively "opposing" Taiwan’s independence.
While U.S. Secretaries of State have shown strong support for Taiwan, recently President Trump suspended $400 million in arms deliveries to Taiwan, while China continues firm pressure on Taiwan.
5. Russia
China is an important ally of Russia, maintaining a balanced, cautious stance by neither condemning Russia’s Ukraine war nor vetoing UN resolutions, while not recognizing Russian sovereignty over occupied territories. China benefits economically from sanctions on Russia as a major oil buyer and exporter of goods to Russia.
Trump positions himself as a peacemaker in the Ukraine war and likely hopes Xi, a close Russian ally, will leverage influence to end the conflict. Trump has frequently threatened tariffs on countries buying Russian oil, including China.
Experts have made predictions about the results of this discussion. Neo Wang, a Chinese strategist from Evercore ISI, told CNBC that likely outcomes of the meeting include Beijing agreeing to guarantee U.S. access to rare earths under export controls, Boeing plane purchases, approval of TikTok's U.S. acquisition, and enhanced measures to curb fentanyl trafficking.
Conversely, Washington might propose easing export restrictions on some semiconductors and AI chips, lifting the threatened 100% tariffs, and reducing fentanyl-related tariffs by 10% as part of a new tariff truce.
Meanwhile, Professor Ban Giljoo from the Republic of Korea’s Institute of Diplomacy told the Associated Press that the meeting could ease tensions between the two countries, noting that the leaders would not meet unless confident of reaching some agreement.
Shan Gao, partner at Hutong Research in Shanghai, told Al Jazeera he expects most agreements between Trump and Xi will focus on avoiding escalation, noting that as the U.S. has no alternative to Chinese rare earths soon, both governments might maintain a longer ceasefire in the trade war than before.
Professor Dennis Wilder, from Georgetown University, who previously worked on China issues at the CIA and White House National Security Council, said he is optimistic the summit will yield "positive tactical outcomes," but stressed it will not end the trade war or lead to a full trade agreement.
He believes Treasury Secretary Bessent and Chinese negotiators will continue talks hoping for a more lasting deal if President Trump visits China next year.
At the same time, some experts do not expect this discussion to bring major changes. Wang Wen, Dean of the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University in Beijing, sees the structural conflict between China and the U.S. as unresolved and predicts ongoing tensions that may "worsen." He expects China to grow stronger and possibly surpass the U.S. in the future.
Sources:aljazeera, edition.cnn, theguardian, theconversation, cnbc, politico