Key Facts
• October 25: US-China trade talks held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• US Treasury described the talks as “very constructive.”
• Talks lasted 5.5 hours at the Merdeka 118 building.
• US delegation led by Treasury Secretary Bessent; China led by Vice Premier He Lifeng.
• October 26: Talks scheduled to resume.
• November 10: Deadline for US-China trade truce agreement.
• October 30: Trump-Xi summit planned during APEC in Gyeongju, South Korea.
• Trump seeks reduced tariffs on Chinese imports and resumed US soybean purchases.
• China aims to ease rare earth export restrictions and fentanyl regulation.
• Recent tensions: US expanded tech regulations; China tightened rare earth export controls.
Summary
The US and China concluded the first day of trade talks in Kuala Lumpur on October 25, described as “very constructive” by the US Treasury. The discussions, lasting 5.5 hours, were led by US Treasury Secretary Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. Talks will resume on October 26, ahead of a planned Trump-Xi summit during the APEC meeting in South Korea on October 30. Both nations aim to ease trade tensions, with the US seeking reduced tariffs and resumed soybean purchases, while China focuses on rare earth export policies and fentanyl regulation. The November 10 trade truce deadline looms amid heightened tensions over US tech restrictions and China’s export controls.
