US President Donald Trump signalled on Monday that he expects to visit China later this year or shortly afterwards, underscoring improving ties between the world’s two largest economies despite ongoing trade frictions.
Speaking in Washington alongside South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Trump highlighted recent talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying, “At some point, probably during this year or shortly thereafter, we’ll go to China. We’re going to have a great relationship with China.”
The remarks come as Beijing and Washington maintain a fragile tariff truce. Earlier this year, tit-for-tat duties escalated into triple-digit rates, crippling supply chains. However, both sides agreed to scale back tariffs, the US to 30% and China to 10%, with a further 90-day suspension on higher duties now extended until November 10.
While expressing optimism, Trump left the door open to steep hikes if Beijing fails to meet commitments, particularly on rare earth exports. “They have to give us magnets. If they don’t, we’ll charge them a 200% tariff,” he warned. Rare earths are critical for industries ranging from defence to electronics, where China is the global leader.
Responding to Trump’s comments, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun emphasised that Beijing manages relations with Washington based on “mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation,” while defending its sovereignty and development interests.
North Korea and Regional Diplomacy
Trump also expressed willingness to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year, recalling their personal rapport from three past meetings. He praised Kim as a leader with “tremendous potential” and noted that North Korea has fired fewer rockets since his return to office.
Despite the warmer rhetoric, talks on denuclearisation remain stalled. Since their earlier summits, Kim has deepened ties with Russia, even sending troops to Ukraine, while refusing to dismantle his nuclear program.
Ukraine and Nuclear Arms Talks
On Ukraine, Trump reaffirmed US support but said specific security guarantees are still under discussion. He revealed that during his August 15 meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, both sides discussed reducing their vast nuclear arsenals once the Ukraine conflict ends.
“We would like to denuclearise. It’s too much power, and we talked about that also. But first, we have to get the war over with,” Trump told reporters.
Asked why Putin refuses direct talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump replied bluntly: “Because he doesn’t like him.”
As head-of-state diplomacy intensifies, observers say Trump’s potential China visit could set the tone for broader negotiations spanning trade, security, and global stability.
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