Overview
- Beijing said Xi Jinping will meet Donald Trump on Thursday on the APEC sidelines in South Korea, describing plans for in‑depth talks on bilateral ties and major issues.
- Trump signaled he expects a deal to lower fentanyl‑related tariffs on China, building on negotiators’ provisional framework from Malaysia to halt new U.S. tariff hikes and ease rare‑earth curbs.
- After an 87‑minute summit in Gyeongju, Trump said he and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung had reached a leaders’ agreement on Seoul’s $350 billion U.S. investment framework, though key details remain under negotiation.
- North Korea said it test‑fired sea‑to‑surface strategic cruise missiles in the Yellow Sea before Trump’s arrival; South Korea’s Joint Chiefs confirmed the launch as Trump indicated a meeting with Kim Jong Un is unlikely on this trip.
- Japan’s new policy direction under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has pressured the yen, with Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato saying authorities are closely monitoring the currency’s rapid weakening.