What We Learned from President Trump’s Summit with China’s Xi

In a high-stakes meeting held in South Korea, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping achieved a series of pivotal agreements that could reshape the global balance of trade and technology.

The two leaders resolved the months-long rare earth dispute, with China agreeing to lift its export ban in exchange for renewed cooperation and a one-year renewable supply deal — a move expected to stabilize global industries dependent on these critical minerals.

Trump also announced a partial tariff rollback tied to China’s commitment to curb the flow of fentanyl precursors into the U.S., marking a key step in addressing the country’s opioid crisis.

The leaders discussed Ukraine extensively, signaling joint efforts toward de-escalation, but notably sidestepped the issue of Taiwan.

On technology, Trump confirmed that China may continue buying U.S. semiconductors but excluded Nvidia’s advanced Blackwell chip from exports, citing security reasons.

With Trump set to visit Beijing in April and Xi possibly traveling to Florida later, both leaders described the meeting as a success — an attempt to reframe one of the world’s most complex relationships amid rising geopolitical and economic pressures.