Xi Jinping Gains Upper Hand Following Brief Trump Trade Talks

Following brief talks between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, China maintains a strategic advantage without securing a broad trade deal, indicating ongoing tensions with the United States.

• Xi Jinping and Donald Trump met for less than two hours at an airbase in South Korea, focusing on maintaining an uneasy truce rather than finalizing a trade agreement.
• The discussions resulted in China emerging with a 10% reduction in tariffs, reinforcing its hardball strategy against the United States amidst ongoing trade negotiations.
• The meeting highlighted the complex relationship between Beijing and the United States, as both sides seek to stabilize trade ties while navigating broader geopolitical tensions, including issues involving Russia and petroleum.