WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump has embarked on one of the most consequential trips of his presidency — a five-day tour across Asia where he hopes to strike deals, calm tensions, and prove his global deal-making prowess.
Leaving Washington on Friday night, Trump’s first stops will be Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea — nations that have felt the impact of his tough trade policies. But all eyes are on one meeting: a potential sit-down with Chinese President Xi Jinping, expected later in the week in Busan, South Korea.
The trip, announced by the White House just a day before departure, carries high stakes. Trump wants to secure progress on trade, critical mineral access, and ceasefire negotiations — all while juggling the ongoing crises in Ukraine, Gaza, and US-China trade relations.
A Trip Full of Uncertainty
Trump’s team admits that expectations for a breakthrough with Beijing are low. The US and China remain locked in a fierce standoff over tariffs, technology, and rare earth minerals. Talks so far have focused on “managing disagreements” rather than ending the trade war outright.
An interim deal could include small steps — like reduced tariffs or China purchasing US-made soybeans and Boeing aircrafts. In return, Washington may allow limited exports of high-end computer chips to China. But, as one insider put it, “It could also end with nothing.”
Adding to the confusion, even the nature of Trump’s meeting with Xi remains uncertain. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described it as merely a “pull-aside,” while Trump insists it will be “a pretty long meeting” to “work out a lot of our questions.”
China has yet to confirm it at all.
What’s at Stake
Experts say the trip will test whether Trump can balance pressure and diplomacy.
“The high-level question is — who does the United States stand with, and what does it stand for?” said Mira Rapp-Hooper, a fellow at the Brookings Institution.
In Kuala Lumpur, Trump will attend the ASEAN Summit, where he’s expected to witness the signing of a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia — a move that could bolster his self-styled image as a global peacemaker.
From there, Trump heads to Tokyo to meet Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who plans to boost defense spending and confirm $550 billion in US investments.
Finally, in Busan, Trump is set to meet Xi — their first potential face-to-face since tensions flared over trade and Taiwan.
Deal or No Deal?
Trump has warned Beijing that if no progress is made, tariffs on Chinese imports could soar to 155% starting November 1 — a move that could reignite full-scale trade hostilities.
The leaders are also expected to touch on Taiwan and Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. Trump hinted he may also bring up the detention of pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong, saying, “It’s on my list. I’m going to ask — we’ll see what happens.”
There are no plans for a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, though speculation persists about a possible symbolic stop at the DMZ.
Still, Trump faces pressure at home and abroad to prove that his hardline tactics can deliver tangible results.
As one official put it bluntly:
“This trip is not just about trade — it’s about whether Trump can still make a deal when the world needs one the most.”
