Big Take Trump Got an ‘Amazing’ Meeting. China Got Much-Needed Time
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Oct 30, 2025 
Brendan Murray, Global Trade Editor at Bloomberg, and John Liu, Executive China Editor based in Beijing, dive into the recent US-China trade truce. They discuss the surprising chemistry between Trump and Xi during their meeting and the implications of the new agreements on tariffs. Key topics include the absence of discussions on Taiwan and technology, the temporary nature of the truce, and how China’s rare-earth dominance impacts global trade. Additionally, they analyze China's long-term strategies to reduce reliance on foreign trade.
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Truce Buys China Time
- John Liu says the Xi-Trump meeting bought China breathing room and a 12-month truce on tariffs.
- He warns the U.S. strategy to restrain China's rise will remain a central Chinese concern.
Deal Favors China Slightly
- Brendan Murray tallied concessions showing the U.S. eased several threats while China rolled back only select measures.
- He concludes that, on balance, China gave up less than the U.S. did in the agreement.
Talks Over Written Deals
- Brendan highlights the deal is a short statement and future talks instead of a written, enforceable treaty.
- He notes China prefers drawn-out discussions rather than binding agreements to maintain flexibility.