Quoting a Chinese proverb, President Xi Jinping remarked that “dialogue is always better than confrontation” after a successful meeting with US President Donald Trump that produced a one-year trade pact.
The meeting, which Trump called “amazing,” resulted in the US agreeing to slash some tariffs and export controls. In return, China committed to buying US soybeans and pausing new curbs on rare earth exports.
This deal on rare earths was crucial, as it headed off a threatened 100% US import tax. The agreement also included a one-year US delay on a restrictive measure that would have blocked many Chinese firms from accessing American technology.
Following the meeting, Xi addressed the APEC forum in Gyeongju, South Korea. He urged member nations to “join hands rather than letting go” and to safeguard global supply chains.
The two leaders also signaled a diplomatic warming, with Trump announcing a visit to China in April and Xi planning a reciprocal visit to the US afterward.