Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he is considering canceling his planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the upcoming APEC summit in South Korea. This announcement comes as Trump criticized China’s recent decision to implement export controls on rare earth materials.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with China’s “extraordinarily aggressive position” on trade, unveiling plans to impose a new 100 percent tariff on Chinese goods starting November 1. Additionally, he intends to implement export controls on critical software on the same date. Trump communicated his concerns through a post on Truth Social, highlighting that the meeting with Xi, originally scheduled for the APEC gathering in Gyeongju from October 31 to November 1, may no longer be necessary.
The announcement has created uncertainty regarding the anticipated meeting between the two leaders, which was expected to primarily focus on resolving trade issues. The future of the meeting now depends on Beijing’s response to Trump’s statements.
In his post, Trump accused China of sending letters to various countries, indicating its intent to impose export controls on all elements related to rare earth production, along with other materials, regardless of their origin. He warned that such actions could disrupt global markets and pose significant challenges for countries worldwide, including China.
The importance of rare earth materials, crucial for producing electronic devices, weapons systems, and consumer tech products, has made China’s restrictions a sensitive issue for the United States and other nations. Trump mentioned that several countries have expressed their anger over China’s recent actions to his administration.
Despite a previously positive relationship with China over the past six months, Trump described the trade move as surprising and unacceptable. He emphasized that China should not be allowed to “hold the world captive” through its control over rare earth elements, which he described as a “monopoly position.”
In a subsequent post, Trump stated that China’s trade measures affect all nations without exception, labeling it as unprecedented in international trade and morally disgraceful. He declared that, starting November 1, 2025, or possibly sooner, the U.S. will impose a 100 percent tariff on China, in addition to existing tariffs.
Wendy Cutler, senior vice president at the Asia Society Policy Institute, commented on the situation, noting the uncertainty surrounding the APEC summit. She raised concerns about whether Washington and Beijing are prepared to de-escalate tensions to preserve the meeting between Trump and Xi. Cutler also highlighted the potential disappointment for Seoul, hosting its first APEC summit in twenty years, if Trump does not attend.
Cutler further remarked on the fragility of the emerging detente between the U.S. and China, noting Beijing’s increasing assertiveness. She suggested that China’s recent actions indicate its belief in having an upper hand in the bilateral relationship, possibly underestimating Trump’s willingness to respond with tariffs and potential meeting cancellations.