• Trump and Xi agree to cut tariffs and resume U.S. soybean purchases.
• China will lift restrictions on rare earth mineral exports.
• Meeting emphasized cooperation despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.
• Trump announced nuclear testing plans, stirring additional concerns.
• No formal agreements on contentious issues like TikTok were finalized.

U.S. President Donald Trump described his recent face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea as “amazing,” stating that they reached several key agreements aimed at easing trade tensions. Trump announced plans to cut tariffs on Chinese goods by 10 percentage points, reducing the rates to 47%. In return, China agreed to resume purchases of U.S. soybeans and lift restrictions on rare earth mineral exports, which are essential for various industries, signaling a possible thaw in their long-standing trade dispute. "I thought it was an amazing meeting," Trump said, affirming the cooperation between the two major economies, according to Africanews, Vox, and CBS News.

During the discussions, Trump emphasized that the trade agreements included a commitment from China to resume significant imports of U.S. soybeans, estimated at 12 million metric tons this season. This resumption is crucial, given that China had previously halted purchases as a countermeasure against the tariff regime imposed by the Trump administration. Xi's willingness to lift these restrictions reflects a move towards stabilizing trade relations, though specific long-term deals remain undiscussed, as noted by Africanews and CBS News.

However, the meeting also coincided with Trump's controversial announcement to resume U.S. nuclear testing, an action that presents potential risks in the context of U.S.-China relations. The announcement, which Trump made just minutes before the meeting, could contradict the image of cooperation that was being cultivated. Nuclear testing has not been conducted by the U.S. since 1992, and this proposal raises eyebrows amid ongoing global disarmament discussions. Officials have been unclear about the intentions behind this move, stimulating concern about future military escalations. This aspect of the meeting highlights the complexities of the current U.S.-China relationship, according to Vox.

Despite the agreements reached, other contentious matters such as TikTok were not finalized during the talks. While Trump indicated that discussions about the app's U.S. operations were ongoing, no formal resolutions were announced, leaving long-standing uncertainties related to foreign ownership and national security concerns unresolved. Meanwhile, the potential for future cooperation in areas like semiconductor chips was mentioned, with Xi reportedly discussing terms with U.S. companies like Nvidia. Trump's role as an arbitrator in these negotiations reflects a sustained interest in controlling technological exports to China, according to CBS News and Vox.