The US-China Podcast China & the Hill: Tariff Cuts and Rare Earth Pause Mark Trump–Xi Breakthrough in South Korea
Oct 30, 2025
This week dives into the pivotal Trump–Xi meeting in South Korea, highlighting tariff cuts and technology talks. U.S. and Chinese perspectives clash over the summit's outcomes, especially with Trump's nuclear test announcement looming large. The discussions also cover legislative efforts in Congress related to Taiwan and trade. Additionally, there's a significant focus on China's AI initiatives in Africa and the U.S. strategy to limit Chinese influence in Argentina's critical sectors.
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Congress Advances Multiple China Bills
- Congress introduced multiple China-related bills covering Taiwan protocol, drone defenses, religious persecution, and foreign agent disclosures.
- Lawmakers also proposed measures on tariffs, IMF engagement, ballot protections, and strengthening U.S. innovation.
Trade Truce And Concessions
- Trump and Xi reached a broad trade and technology understanding after their South Korea meeting.
- The US cut some tariffs while China paused new rare-earth export controls and agreed to buy soybeans.
Tariff Cuts And Rare-Earth Pause
- The U.S. agreed to lower tariffs and delay ship-fee plans while China paused rare-earth export controls for a year.
- Beijing's readout emphasized avoiding mutual retaliation and extended an existing tariff truce.