By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON US President Donald Trump on Thursday met Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea for what he called “truce talks.” The meeting took place in Busan, on the sidelines of a APEC summit in Gyeongju.
Trump announced that he would cut tariffs on Chinese goods linked to fentanyl from 20% to 10%.
He said the dispute between the US and China had been “settled” and described the meeting as “amazing.”
Trump had imposed a 20% tariff to curb the flow of chemical ingredients for fentanyl entering the US.
He was speaking from Air Force One, said “I believe he’s going to work very hard to stop the deaths that are happening.”
Trump also said the two leaders reached a one-year, extendable deal on the supply of rare earth minerals, added that it would be reviewed every year.
“All the rare earths have been settled, and that’s for the world,” he told reporters.
They also discussed the war in Ukraine.
Trump said, “Ukraine came up very strongly. We talked about it for a long time, and we are both going to work together to see if we can get something.”
He called the meeting a “great success,” Trump said he plans to visit China in April 2026.
Trump clarified that Taiwan was not discussed during the meeting, stated “It never came up. That was not discussed, actually.”
Presidential office welcomes Trump’s approval of South Korea’s nuclear-powered submarine bid
The presidential office welcomed US President Donald Trump’s decision to approve South Korea’s bid to build a nuclear-powered submarine, vowed to closely cooperate with the US throughout the process.
Trump wrote on social media that he had given South Korea approval to build a nuclear-powered submarine, added it will be built at shipyards in Philadelphia.
The approval came a day after South Korea President Lee Jae Myung asked Trump to allow South Korea to have nuclear fuel to build nuclear-powered submarines during their summit held in the southeastern city of Gyeongju.
“Our government welcomes President Trump’s decision,” presidential spokesperson Kim Nam-jun said in a press briefing.
“The decision will help bolster our defence capabilities and greatly enhance our military’s role in defending the Republic of Korea,” he said, referring to the country’s official name.
Kim added that South Korea will work closely with the US as it proceeds with the necessary follow-up measures, media reported.
Trump said that he has granted approval for South Korea to build a nuclear-powered submarine, adding the submarine will be built at shipyards in Philadelphia.
He wrote the message on his Truth Social account a day after he and President Lee Jae Myung agreed on the need for Seoul to secure fuel for nuclear-powered submarines during their summit held on the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation events.
Trump “I have given them approval to build a nuclear powered submarine, rather than the old fashioned, and far less nimble, diesel powered submarines that they have now,” Trump wrote.
The approval was granted on the grounds that the US-South Korea military alliance is “stronger than ever before,” the US president said, adding, “A great trip, with a great president of South Korea.”
Trump also said South Korea will be building its nuclear-powered submarine at the Philadelphia shipyards in Pennsylvania, the United States in a subsequent upload.
