Trump, Xi to meet as trade talks face new uncertainty

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet next week during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, the White House confirmed Thursday. It will be their first in-person discussion since Trump returned to office in January 2025, CNBC reported.

The talks come amid renewed tensions and ahead of the Nov. 10 expiration of a fragile trade truce between the two largest economies. If no progress is made, Trump has threatened to impose new 100% tariffs, adding urgency to the meeting.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the meeting aims to «advance discussions on trade and broader cooperation,» while Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao expressed hopes to maintain dialogue and avoid economic decoupling.

However, analysts warn that expectations should remain modest. «This will be a high-risk, high-reward leaders’ meeting,» said Han Shen Lin of The Asia Group, noting that deeper disputes over tariffs, technology and Taiwan remain unresolved.

In a related move, a Chinese delegation is scheduled to meet U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Malaysia ahead of the leaders’ talks to discuss trade and economic issues.