Washington: President Donald Trump has embarked on a five-day trip to Asia, visiting Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, with the main goal of meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping to negotiate a trade deal. The meeting is scheduled to take place next Thursday on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in South Korea.

Trump’s visit comes amid ongoing tensions between the United States and China over tariffs, export controls, and supply chain issues. Officials from both countries are holding high-level talks in Kuala Lumpur to set the stage for the upcoming meeting. The discussions focus on U.S. demands for increased Chinese purchases of American farm products and aircraft, as well as easing of certain export restrictions, while China aims to maintain control over rare-earth exports and technology supply chains.

The U.S. has recently launched a trade investigation into China for apparent violations of the 2020 Phase One trade agreement, prompting strong reactions from Beijing. Analysts warn that failure to reach an agreement could lead to new tariffs, potentially up to 100 percent on certain goods, which are scheduled to take effect on November 1 if no deal is secured.

The trip also includes engagements with Japan and Southeast Asian countries, highlighting the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region. Success in the Trump-Xi meeting could calm global markets, boost U.S. agriculture and manufacturing sectors, and strengthen the president’s international standing. However, a lack of progress may escalate trade tensions and create uncertainty in global supply chains.

The world will be watching closely as the U.S. and China attempt to navigate this critical negotiation, which could shape economic and geopolitical relations in the region for years to come.