The Monocle Daily How long will the détente in Trump and Xi’s trade war last?
Oct 30, 2025
Carol Walker, a Times Radio presenter and astute political commentator, joins Bill Hayton, a Chatham House expert on Asia Pacific geopolitics, and Chris Chermak, a unique voice from the Faroe Islands. They explore the precarious US-China trade truce and its implications, alongside the shifting political landscape in the Netherlands. The trio also discusses the awkward intertwining of politics and dating in Washington, delving into the challenges faced by those with opposing views. Lastly, Chermak shares insights on how wind farms can beautify rather than mar the Faroe Islands' stunning vistas.
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Leader-Led Truce, Not A Final Deal
- The Trump–Xi summit produced a leader-led, high-theatre truce rather than detailed, binding agreements.
- Bill Hayton warns this looks like a one-year pause with major issues still unresolved.
Spectacle Outruns Substance
- Carol Walker stresses the summit's rhetoric outpaced concrete details, leaving much to be pinned down.
- She highlights Trump's flair for spectacle and others having to work out the technicalities.
Beijing Treats Tensions As New Normal
- China prepared for a Trump presidency and sees current tensions as a new normal to manage rather than panic over.
- Bill Hayton says Beijing believes it can outlast US decline via strategic stockpiling and guarded responses.