President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he sees “no reason” to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his upcoming trip to South Korea. The remarks came after China imposed new restrictions on vital rare earth exports to the United States a move that further escalates the already fragile relationship between the world’s two largest economies.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump addressed reporters during an afternoon press briefing. When asked about the planned meeting with Xi, the President replied, “No, I haven’t cancelled it. I don’t know if we’re going to have it, but I’m going to be there, so we might have it.”
The comment coincided with Trump’s announcement of a potential 100% tariff on Chinese imports, which he suggested could take effect “in November or sooner.” This proposal nearly doubles the existing tariff levels that previously stirred fears of a global economic slowdown earlier in the year.
Trump later expanded on his stance through Truth Social, writing, “One of the policies we are calculating at this moment is a massive increase of tariffs on Chinese products coming into the United States of America. There are many other countermeasures also under serious consideration.”
The timing of this announcement made shortly after financial markets closed could have global repercussions. Analysts warn that renewed trade hostilities might unsettle world markets, worsen inflation, and strain an already fragile U.S. job market.
In response to China’s export limits, Trump also revealed that Washington is preparing export controls on critical U.S. software a move signaling America’s intent to push back with equal force.
Trade tensions between Washington and Beijing have simmered for months despite earlier talks in Switzerland and the U.K. While both sides pledged to reduce tariffs, China’s rare earth restrictions have reignited disputes. These materials are crucial for U.S. technology production, from smartphones to defense equipment.
Trump clarified that the meeting with Xi has not been officially cancelled but may no longer be part of his late-October Asia tour. The President is scheduled to attend events in Malaysia (for the ASEAN Summit), Japan, and South Korea, where he was originally expected to meet Xi ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
He wrote on Truth Social, “I was to meet President Xi in two weeks, at APEC, in South Korea, but now there seems to be no reason to do so.”
Interestingly, the announcement came just hours after Trump’s “semiannual physical” at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described it as a “routine yearly checkup,” though Trump had already undergone his annual physical back in April.
Trump departed the White House around 10:45 a.m. and returned just after 2 p.m., slightly ahead of schedule. The administration has not provided further details about his exam results or why the second checkup was scheduled only six months after the first.
As the President juggles foreign policy tensions and domestic scrutiny, his comments signal a harder stance toward Beijing and a potential new phase in the U.S.–China trade conflict.
Comments
Post a Comment