The agreement reduces US tariffs on Chinese goods and targets the fentanyl crisis, with China pledging to curb production and exports of the deadly opioid in exchange for eased trade measures and resumed agricultural and rare-earth flows.
RF Report
US President Donald Trump announced a significant agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meeting at the APEC summit in South Korea on 30 October 2025.
The two leaders agreed to reduce tariffs and address key trade and public health issues. The meeting marks the first face-to-face talks between Trump and Xi since 2019. This development follows Trump’s expressing optimism on 22 October about reaching agreements with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their upcoming meeting in South Korea.
Trump revealed that US tariffs on Chinese imports would drop from 57% to 47%, with specific reductions on fentanyl precursor chemicals from 20% to 10%.
This move comes in exchange for China’s commitment to crack down on the production and export of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid responsible for nearly 450,000 overdose deaths in the US.
Trump expressed optimism about China’s efforts, stating that Xi is committed to taking “strong action” to curb the fentanyl crisis.
Additionally, the agreement includes China resuming US soybean purchases and maintaining the flow of rare-earth exports.
This deal follows a framework established by US negotiators earlier in the week, which averted the imposition of 100% tariffs on Chinese goods and secured a deferral of China’s rare earth export restrictions.
