Source: BBC News
DST News: Gyeongju, South Korea – As US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping prepare for their first face-to-face meeting since 2019, hopes are rising that Washington and Beijing could strike a deal to ease their intensifying rivalry.
The two leaders are expected to use their meeting in South Korea on Thursday to dial down tensions between the world’s two largest economies. However, analysts caution that expectations remain limited regarding how much progress any potential agreement will make in addressing their deep-rooted disputes.
Most of the measures reportedly under discussion focus on preventing future escalation rather than undoing the trade war that Trump initiated during his first term—and has significantly expanded since returning to office this year.
Recent flashpoints have included China’s announcement of new export restrictions on rare earth minerals, set to take effect on December 1, a move that has further strained bilateral relations.
Whatever the outcome of their talks on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, experts believe the rivalry between Washington and Beijing will persist as both nations compete for global influence in an increasingly uncertain world.
“I have modest expectations for this meeting,” said Deborah Elms, Executive Director of the Hinrich Foundation in Singapore. “No matter what happens this week, we’re not at the end of economic tensions, tariff threats, export controls, or new regulatory measures like digital trade restrictions.”
