Fentanyl, soybeans and Ukraine: Trump claims “great success” after talks with Xi

Thursday 30 October 2025 - 09:00

By: Sahili Aya

Aboard Air Force One (AFP) – Smiling broadly, US President Donald Trump hailed what he called a “great success” in his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea, on Thursday. The talks covered key global issues, including fentanyl trafficking, trade tensions, and the war in Ukraine.

Fentanyl

The United States has long accused China of ignoring the illegal fentanyl trade. In response, Trump imposed a 20% tariffon Chinese imports. After the Busan talks, he announced the levy would be reduced to 10%, bringing overall US tariffs on Chinese goods down to 47%.
Trump said Xi had “agreed to work very hard to stop the flow” of the deadly opioid into the US. “I believe he’s going to work very hard to stop the death that’s coming in,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.

Soybeans and Agriculture

China had retaliated to Washington’s measures with tariffs on US farm products, including soybeans—vital to many American farmers. Following the talks, Trump declared that Beijing had agreed to resume large-scale purchases of soybeans and other agricultural goods, calling it “a very nice gesture.”

Rare Earths

Rare earth minerals, crucial to defense and high-tech industries, had been another point of friction. China recently imposed new export restrictions, prompting Trump to threaten 100% tariffs on Chinese goods. However, he said Thursday that “the roadblock is gone” and expressed optimism that rare earths “will disappear from our vocabulary as a problem.”

Ukraine

Trump also revealed that the two leaders discussed the war in Ukraine, and that China had agreed to cooperate with Washington in seeking a peaceful resolution. While China claims neutrality, Western nations have accused Beijing of backing Russia economically. “He’s going to help us, and we’re going to work together on Ukraine,” Trump said.

Semiconductors

The conversation also turned to AI chips, a growing point of contention between Washington and Beijing. Trump mentioned that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who is attending the APEC CEO Summit in Gyeongju, would speak to Chinese officials about chip trade restrictions. “We’re sort of the referee,” Trump added, hinting at a possible thaw in the ongoing technology dispute.