President Donald Trump wrapped his Asia trip in Busan, South Korea, by announcing he will cut tariffs on Chinese imports after a high-stakes sit-down with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The reason? Concrete commitments from Beijing: tougher fentanyl enforcement, immediate purchases of U.S. farm goods, and a pause on rare-earth export limits. Imagine that—actual negotiations that deliver results.
The meeting—following stops in Malaysia and Japan—zeroed in on cooling the economic standoff that’s rattled global markets. Going in, aides on both sides flagged the big three: tariffs, advanced-tech exports, and supply-chain competition. Coming out, Trump called it “an amazing meeting” with “an outstanding group of decisions.” That’s diplomat-speak for: we pushed, they moved.
On the economy and security, the deliverables were clear. Xi agreed to begin immediate purchases of American soybeans and other farm goods, while pledging China will work “very hard” to block fentanyl from reaching the U.S. Trump, pointing to those steps, said he’ll cut the tariff rate by 10 points—from 20% to 10% by his description—while an aide clarified the actual rates would land closer to 45–47%. Bureaucratic footnotes aside, the headline is simple: action on fentanyl and a measure of relief on tariffs. And yes, saving American lives from poison pouring across borders is kind of a big deal.
Energy and minerals weren’t left out. China agreed to pause planned rare-earth export controls for a year, with both sides set to revisit the arrangement next year—and extend it if the progress continues. That’s called leverage, and it matters when your smartphones, vehicles, and defense systems depend on critical minerals. In Trump’s words: “We have a deal… Every year we’ll renegotiate the deal, but I think it’ll go on for a long time.” Annual reviews—because trust is earned, not given.
On chips, Trump said China will talk with Nvidia about additional semiconductor purchases—though the newest generation of advanced processors is not part of the discussion. Translation: We’re not handing over the crown jewels, but we’re keeping doors open where it serves American interests. Tough and practical—funny how that works.
Diplomacy also got a boost. The two leaders set reciprocal visits: Trump to China in April, and Xi to the U.S. later this year. The Busan session ran roughly an hour and forty minutes, capped by a quick photo-op and a handshake. Xi called the reunion “very warm,” admitted big powers will have “frictions now and then,” and added both sides can still “thrive side by side.” (Welcome to the party, pal.)
Before landing in South Korea, Trump had already signaled a tariff reduction if Beijing cooperated on fentanyl—a promise he followed through on after the talks. And in a Truth Social post, he laid out the wins: massive purchases of U.S. soybeans, sorghum, and other farm products; continued open flow of rare earths and critical minerals; a strong commitment from China to help stop fentanyl; and a start to purchasing American energy. He even floated a potential large-scale deal for Alaskan oil and gas, with energy leaders set to explore it. Prosperity and security for millions of Americans… that’s not exactly a bad Tuesday.
Bottom line: Trump leveraged pressure into progress—farmers get sales, families get a harder line against fentanyl, industries get breathing room on rare earths, and America keeps the upper hand with a one-year, renew-and-verify framework. It’s results-oriented, it’s America-first, and yes—it ends on a positive note: momentum is back on our side.
