Trade Truce Triumphs: Trump's Tug-of-War with China and South Korea

U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in South Korea on Wednesday, concluding his Asia tour with high hopes for breaking ground on a trade agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The visit comes amid fresh tensions after North Korea's recent missile test, placing additional pressure on regional diplomacy.

Central to Wednesday's agenda was the ongoing trade agreement dispute between the U.S. and South Korea, set in a wider context of Trump's anticipated meeting with Xi. While speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump minimized concerns about North Korea, instead focusing on his engagement with China, the globe's second-largest economy.

Despite announcing a $350 billion investment plan to avoid steep tariffs, negotiations between the U.S. and South Korea have stalled, reflecting broader discord over defense costs and immigration issues. Notably absent from Trump's agenda is a summit engagement at the APEC leaders' meeting, though discussions will likely touch on North Korea and Taiwan.