Trump Confident of Deal in Successful US-China Trade Talks in Kuala Lumpur

US President Donald Trump expressed confidence in reaching a comprehensive trade agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping following two days of high-level discussions in Kuala Lumpur. The talks involved US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer meeting with Chinese officials, including Vice Premier He Lifeng and lead trade negotiator Li Chenggang, marking the fifth round of face-to-face negotiations since May. The dialogue covered a wide range of issues such as trade disputes, rare earth export controls, fentanyl trafficking, TikTok, and the overall US-China relationship, aiming to prevent further escalation of the trade war. Both nations have paused new trade actions and considered extending a trade truce set to expire in early November, with Trump threatening to impose 100 percent tariffs on Chinese goods starting November 1. Trump also indicated plans for multiple future meetings with Xi, including potential summits in China and the US, emphasizing protection for American farmers and addressing concerns about Chinese soybean purchases. The upcoming Trump-Xi meeting is scheduled for October 30 in South Korea, contingent on the success of these preliminary negotiations.