US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are preparing for potential talks during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea in October, according to CNN. The meeting could take place on the sidelines of the forum, which is scheduled for late October to early November in Gyeongju, South Korea. While no official plans have been confirmed, three unnamed Trump administration officials stated that the president and his top advisers are quietly preparing to attend the summit and engage in discussions with trade ministers of member states.
Trade tensions between the US and China remain high, with Trump imposing sweeping tariffs as high as 145% on Chinese goods in early 2025. Beijing responded with reciprocal tariffs of 125%, although a temporary truce was agreed upon in May and extended to mid-November. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently praised the current arrangement as “working pretty well,” adding that the sides were holding “very good talks” and are likely to meet again before the truce expires.
The potential meeting with Xi has also sparked speculation about a possible meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, though the focus remains on the China summit. Trump’s recent remarks on social media, where he claimed that Russia and China are “conspiring” against the US, have further complicated the diplomatic landscape. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed Trump’s accusations as speculative, emphasizing that such statements should not be taken literally.