Trump cuts China tariff after Xi signals tougher fentanyl enforcement, rare-earth pause

Fox News ^ | October 29, 2025 11:25pm EDT | Updated October 30, 2025 6:54am EDT | Landon Mion , Alex Nitzberg

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Chinese leader Xi Jinping said 'it is normal for the two leading economies of the world to have frictions now and then'

President Donald Trump on Thursday said he will cut tariffs on Chinese imports after a highly-anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, citing new understandings on fentanyl enforcement, farm trade, and a pause on rare-earth export limits. 

The meeting in the City of Busan marked the final stop of Trump’s Asia trip, which also included stops in Malaysia and Japan, and focused on cooling the economic standoff between Washington and Beijing. 

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has levied major tariffs on Chinese imports – a move that prompted Beijing to tighten its control over exports of rare earth elements. Both leaders signaled interest in reducing tensions to avoid further shocks to the global economy. 

Ahead of Thursday's summit, U.S. and Chinese aides signaled the discussion would center on tariffs, advanced technology exports, and supply chain competition – key sticking points that have long defined the relationship between the two powers. Trump told reporters he believed the two sides could reach common ground. 

After the talks, Trump said he and Xi had "an amazing meeting" and that both sides had reached "an outstanding group of decisions" on key economic and security issues. The president said Xi agreed to begin immediate purchases of U.S. soybeans and other farm goods and that China would work "very hard" to block fentanyl from entering the U.S.

Trump said he would cut the tariff rate on Chinese imports by 10 points – from 20% to 10%, according to his description – though an aide clarified that the rates would be closer to 45-47%, in response to Xi’s promise to crack down on the flow of....

[ifinnegan]

Chicoms always say they will clamp down on fentanyl.

[central_va]

Back to the baseline 10% tariff.

[escapefromboston]

Hope this gives us time to mine our own “rare” earth elements instead of sitting around and doing nothing and waiting for red China to turn the screws whenever they want

[Owen]

It does not. More extensive reports are saying that the 1 year suspension of export control on rare earths applies only to some few additional materials announced when Trump increased his tariff numbers in early Oct.

The original Rare Earth export controls from Jan/Feb REMAIN IN PLACE. No 1 year suspension.

Bottom line: no progress was made getting rare earth exports, at least for the kind that matters.

[whitney69]

“Chicoms always say they will clamp down on fentanyl.”

And if they don’t, the tariffs come back in force and most likely higher. Years ago they used to call this a stare down and Trump has the situation in his hands. He’s hurt them before with tariffs and he can do it again. His first tariffs cost the Chinese over $48 billion in three weeks.

wy69

[ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton]

I think it might have went like:

Xi: Before we begin negotiation how has your Internet been working lately Mr. President?

It would be a shame if all your Tech Infrastructure went south if you don’t agree to the trade terms we want.

[Carriage Hill]

Xi is a liar, untrustworthy and our enemy. I hope Trump is just trolling him/China, knowing they will stab us in the back, once more.

[Brian Griffin]

"Ye Hong et al. used benzylamine and methyl acrylate as starting materials, employing microwave radiation for Michael addition and Dieckmann condensation. They tested different microwave radiation times, powers, and temperatures. The optimal Michael addition conditions were set at a microwave power of 110-120 W, with a microwave reaction temperature of 50-55°C and a radiation time of 80 minutes. The best Dieckmann condensation conditions were set at a microwave power of 90-100 W, with a microwave reaction temperature of 70-75°C and a radiation time of 20 minutes. The final product, N-Benzyl-4-piperidone, was synthesized through decarboxylation by heating and hydrolysis."

https://www.guidechem.com/guideview/lab/n-benzyl-4-piperidone-synthesis-uses.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fentanyl

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Addicts need to be able to obtain their daily fix in the relatively safe form of about two liters of opiate solution.

In order to buy the bottles, the addict should have to register with the E-Verify system so employers can avoid hiring people that would be at risk or place others at risk.

The strength of the solution should be based on hospital testing.

*******************

The Israelis couldn’t find 20 hostages in an area comparable in size to Washington, DC.

China, Mexico, Ontario and British Columbia are much larger.

[Theoria]

10%? China helps bring drugs into our country and they get rewarded with one of the lowest tariff rates. Not only that, but the rates not high enough to help spur domestic production.