Overview:
It was announced yesterday that U.S. President Donald Trump will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea next week. Trump hopes to reach agreements on agricultural issues, nuclear arms, and possibly the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. With trade tensions high, this meeting could have major implications for global relations.
William Barber | Presence News
A New Meeting on the Horizon
Yesterday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that an upcoming overseas trip will include a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. It’s shaping up to be an eventful occasion, to say the least.
The United States and China have been locked in a trade war for the past seven years. The upcoming meeting could mark a turning point in relations between the two nations. Trump revealed that discussions would range from nuclear agreements to agriculture — “everything from nukes to soybeans,” as he put it.
Will This Affect the Russia-Ukraine War?
Trump also recently canceled a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, citing poor timing due to stalled negotiations.
Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War, Trump has expressed optimism about Xi’s potential influence over Putin. According to a report by Anadolu Ajansi’s Rabia Iclal Turan, Trump told reporters Wednesday, “I think he can have a big influence on Putin… and we will certainly be talking about Russia-Ukraine.”
Possible Nuclear Weapons Agreement?
Trump noted that Putin had raised the prospect of de-escalating nuclear weapons — and that China might soon be added to that discussion.
During his second term, Trump has shown renewed interest in negotiating a new arms control treaty to reduce nuclear arsenals.
According to World Population Review, Russia currently holds the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons, followed by the United States and China.
We’ve Got a Soybean Problem Here
Due to the long-standing U.S.-China trade war, American agriculture — especially soybean exports — has taken a major hit.
According to an American Farm Bureau Federation report by Faith Parum (October 2, 2025), “From January through August 2025, U.S. soybean exports to China totaled just 218 million bushels, down sharply from 985 million bushels in 2024.”
President Trump has faced growing pressure from American farmers to address this issue. He told reporters that he expects to reach an agreement with Xi during their meeting.
Lingering Issues of Magnetic Proportions
Soybeans aren’t the only casualty of the trade war. Rare-earth magnets — critical to industries such as electric vehicles, renewable energy, and defense systems — have also been affected.
In recent decades, the U.S. has relied heavily on China’s exports of rare-earth materials. However, Chinese exports of these magnets fell again in September, according to Anadolu Ajansi. Even with next week’s talks, this issue could remain unresolved.
Meeting of Powers
The Trump–Xi meeting in South Korea will coincide with a diplomatic tour that includes Malaysia and Japan. This will mark the first in-person meeting between the two leaders during Trump’s second term.
With tensions between the U.S. and China still high, the world will be watching closely. Topics ranging from agriculture to arms control — and even the Russia-Ukraine War — are expected to dominate discussions.
One thing is certain: the Trump–Xi meeting could set the tone for the next chapter in U.S.–China relations.
Sources
- The Hill – Trump predicts deal with Xi Jinping
- NDTV – Trump to meet China’s Xi in South Korea, cancels meeting with Putin
- Reuters – USTR, Treasury officials heading to Malaysia for talks with China
- Anadolu Ajansi – Trump says Xi can influence Putin to end Ukraine war
- World Population Review – Nuclear Weapons by Country
- American Farm Bureau Federation – Agricultural Trade: China Steps Back from U.S. Soybeans
- Visual Capitalist – Why Rare Earths Are Critical to EV Motors
- Al Jazeera – Despite U.S. push, China poised to dominate rare earths for years
- Anadolu Ajansi – China’s rare earth magnet exports to U.S. fall for 2nd straight month
More at Presence News:
