Overview
- The Trump–Xi understanding pauses new tariffs for roughly a year and temporarily halts measures on rare earths, easing immediate pressure on critical supply chains.
- APEC leaders issued the Gyeongju declaration reaffirming the importance of trade and investment for regional growth and released separate joint statements on AI and demographic challenges.
- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the reopening of military-to-military communications with China, with further meetings planned to prevent incidents and reduce risk in sensitive regions.
- Xi Jinping stepped into the spotlight after President Trump departed South Korea, promoting free trade and holding bilaterals with Japan, Canada and South Korea, including a stated reset in Canada–China ties.
- Analysts describe the truce as tactical and nonbinding, noting that follow-through and rulemaking on trade, AI governance and supply-chain resilience remain unresolved.