Marketplace Morning Report Is the U.S.-China trade war finally cooling off?
Oct 30, 2025
Suringjana Tiwari, a BBC correspondent covering the APEC summit, shares insights from the U.S.-China leaders' meeting, discussing potential tariff reductions and China’s renewed soybean purchases. She explores the contrasting expectations between the U.S. and China regarding trade agreements. John Lawrenson, a BBC reporter from the Netherlands, delves into the challenges of grid congestion due to rapid electrification and renewable energy integration, highlighting innovative solutions like AI in virtual power plants to manage supply.
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Progress Without A Final Deal
- The Busan meeting signaled progress but not a finalized trade deal between the U.S. and China.
- Both leaders claimed agreements on key issues, yet Xi warned a full deal takes years, not months.
Rare Earths And Tariff Concessions
- The U.S. secured tariff cuts and China committed to maintain rare earth exports.
- Rare earths matter because they power EVs, smartphones, and green technologies.
Soybean Purchases Resume
- China agreed to resume U.S. soybean purchases, easing pain for American farmers.
- Resuming purchases matters politically because farmers were big supporters of President Trump.