US and Chinese negotiators concluded two days of high-level talks on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, reaching a preliminary framework agreement on several critical trade issues.
This development, described by both sides as a “preliminary consensus,” sets the stage for a potential final deal to be reviewed by US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping during their anticipated meeting in South Korea on October 30, 2025.
The agreement aims to de-escalate ongoing tensions in the US-China trade war, which has seen escalating tariffs and export restrictions since early 2025. The talks focused on resolving immediate flashpoints while outlining paths for longer-term cooperation.
US agrees to pause implementation of threatened 100% or up to 157% tariffs on Chinese imports, originally set for November 1, 2025. Averts immediate economic shock to global supply chains, including US consumers and manufacturers reliant on Chinese electronics and components.
Stock futures rose Sunday in response, signaling market relief. China to delay new export controls on rare earth minerals and magnets critical for EVs, semiconductors, and defense tech for one year, pending re-examination. US to ease related retaliatory measures.
Addresses US concerns over supply disruptions—China controls ~90% of global processing—while giving Beijing time to adjust. This could stabilize prices for tech and auto industries. China commits to resuming and increasing purchases of US soybeans and other farm goods to help balance the trade deficit.
Boosts US farmers hit hard by prior halts in Chinese orders; soybeans alone represent a multi-billion-dollar market. Initial pact for enhanced cooperation to curb flow of chemical precursors from China used in fentanyl production.
Responds to US public health crisis, with potential for tariff relief tied to enforcement progress. Discussions on shipping levies, export controls for advanced tech, and a final resolution for TikTok’s US operations including asset sales.
Broader truce on punitive actions; TikTok deal fulfills US national security requirements. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer described the outcome as “moving toward final details” for leader-level review, emphasizing pauses on “punitive actions” and paths to “more access to rare earths” and deficit reduction via US exports.
Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Li Chenggang called the discussions “candid and in-depth,” noting both sides will seek domestic approvals before advancing. This framework builds on a May 2025 Geneva agreement that paused new tariffs for 90 days, but recent escalations— including China’s tightened rare earth rules and Trump’s tariff threats—had raised fears of a full-blown trade war.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent highlighted the deal’s role as a “pregame” for the Trump-Xi summit, predicting a “fantastic meeting.” President Trump echoed optimism, stating, “I think we’re going to have a deal with China.”
Economically, the news has spurred positive market reactions: US stock futures climbed, Japan’s Nikkei hit a new all-time high, and Asian indices like Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose ~1%. However, experts caution that the deal relies on mutual leverage rather than deep structural reforms, with only 60 days left to finalize under prior truces.
Analysts like Deborah Elms of the Hinrich Foundation note that while escalation is avoided, “these talks are not going to be easy.” On X (formerly Twitter), the agreement trended briefly amid crypto and stock discussions, with users like rcivNFT highlighting it in market roundups alongside Bitcoin’s surge past $116K.
No major controversies have emerged yet, though some US commentators question if concessions go far enough on intellectual property and subsidies. This is a significant step toward stabilization, but the proof will be in the Trump-Xi implementation. Further updates are expected post-summit.
