Trump exuded confidence ahead of a planned meeting with China’s leader in South Korea, aimed at brokering a deal to end a painful trade war between the world’s two biggest economies.
“I think we will have a deal,” he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur as US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng wrapped up two days of meetings.
“It will be great for China, great for us,” he noted.
S. Bessentas indicated that the negotiations, during which the aim is to reach an agreement and avoid further 100% of the tariffs, due to come into effect on November 1, “set the stage for the leaders’ meeting on a very positive basis.” Meanwhile, Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Li Chenggang told reporters that a “preliminary agreement” had been reached.
But at the top of Trump’s agenda in Kuala Lumpur, on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, was the signing of a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia. Trump called the truce, which he helped broker after the neighbors’ bloodiest clashes in decades, a “huge step” and added that he had also brokered a “major trade deal with Cambodia and a very important deal with Thailand on critical minerals.”
As he left Washington, Trump fueled speculation that he may also visit the Korean peninsula for the first time since 2019. to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, he said he was “open to that.” The US president, who is making his first trip to Asia since returning to the White House in January, will also travel to Japan on Monday.
In Malaysia, Trump’s first visit as president, his plane was escorted by two Malaysian F-18s as it landed in Kuala Lumpur. Greeted with a red carpet and plenty of Malaysian and US flags, a smiling Trump responded with his signature hand-waving dance to the cultural crowd that greeted him.
Mr Trump, who also signed a trade and minerals deal with Malaysia, rode with Minister Anwar Ibrahim in his armored Cadillac, nicknamed “The Beast”. Elsewhere in the city, a small group of protesters rallied, some holding signs reading “Dump Trump.”
After stopping for gas, Trump met with the leaders of Qatar, one of the guarantors of the Gaza ceasefire agreement he initiated; in addition, he met with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in an effort to improve relations with the leftist leader.
“I think we’re going to make a pretty good deal,” Trump told the Brazilian leader.
Customs negotiations
Trump will also meet Tuesday with Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, who has declared strengthening ties with the United States her “administration’s top diplomatic and security priority.” The US leader said he had heard “great things” about her.
Japan has avoided the biggest tariffs Trump has imposed on countries around the world in an effort to end what he says are unfair trade balances that are “ripping off the United States.”
The highlight of the trip should be South Korea, where Trump will meet with Xi Jinping for the first time since returning to power. Trump is due to land in the southern port city of Busan on Wednesday ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit and will meet with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.
Global markets will be watching closely on Thursday to see if a meeting with China’s leader can help end a trade war sparked by Trump’s massive tariffs.
South Korea’s unification minister said there was a “high” chance that a meeting between Trump and the North Korean leader would also take place. The two leaders last met in the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas during Trump’s first term as president.
Kim Jong Un said he would also be open to a meeting with the US president if Washington drops its demand that Pyongyang give up its nuclear arsenal.
