Staff Writer 
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After Donald Trump and Xi Jinping met in South Korea on October 30, China released a statement on the landmark summit’s outcomes, while US officials made public remarks and later published a fact sheet.
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In places, those comments didn’t quite match, while for other areas — such as the deal to keep Chinese social media app TikTok alive in the US, or which companies Beijing will free from anti-monopoly probes — many details await clarification.
China’s statements were broader than the specifics offered by the Trump administration. Some of the language on what rare earth licensing measures China is suspending already suggest the two sides could have different understandings of what was agreed. Beijing may issue more specifics in the coming days.
Here’s a comparison of what’s been said so far:
| Issue | US | China |
|---|---|---|
| Overall assessment | Trump rated the meeting 12 out of 10, and said many decisions were finalised. | Consultations achieved “positive results” based on “equality, respect, and mutual benefit.” |
| Leaders’ visit | Trump said he will go to China in April, and President Xi will visit the US at a later date. | Trump “looks forward to” visiting China early next year, invites Xi to visit US |
| Rare earths/export controls | The US will suspend the so-called BIS 50% rule for a year “in return for the suspension of the rare-earth licensing regime,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News.China will suspend export controls on rare earths announced on October 9 and issue general licenses that would mean the “de facto removal of controls China imposed in April 2025 and October 2022,” according to a White House statement. | The US will suspend its September 29 BIS 50% “affiliates” rule, and China will suspend its October 9 related export control measures on rare earths. Beijing made no mention of pre-existing measures. |
| Soybeans and agricultural products | China agreed to purchase at least 12 million metric tons of soybeans in 2025 and at least 25 million tons of US soybeans in each of 2026, 2027 and 2028, according to a White House statement. China will resume purchases of US sorghum and hardwood logs, the statement says. | A consensus was reached on expanding agricultural trade. |
| Fentanyl | The US will halve a tariff on Chinese goods to 10% following China’s vow to work to stop the flow of fentanyl precursors. The reduction will hold until November 10, 2026, the White House said.China will stop the shipment of certain designated chemicals to North America and strictly control exports of certain other chemicals to the world, according to a White House statement. | The US will remove a 10% tariff imposed due to fentanyl. A consensus was reached on anti-drug cooperation on fentanyl. |
| Other tariffs | The general tariff rate on Chinese goods was reduced from 57% to 47%, Trump says. The US will pause heightened reciprocal tariffs on Chinese imports until November 10, 2026.China will suspend all of the retaliatory tariffs that it has announced since March 4, 2025, White House said.US will extend the expiration of certain Section 301 tariff exclusions until November 10, 2026.China to extend expiration of its tariff exclusion process for imports from the US until December 31, 2026. | The US’ 24% reciprocal tariffs will remain suspended for one year. China will adjust its countermeasures accordingly. |
| Maritime, shipping and shipbuilding | The US will “postpone” action under Section 301 related to shipping and ports. These actions will be suspended for one year, the White House said.China will remove its countermeasures. | The US will suspend its 301 investigation targeting China’s maritime, logistics and shipbuilding, and China will suspend its countermeasures. |
| Investment/TikTok | Trump expressed optimism that the Chinese would ramp up investments in the US. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said TikTok sale will go forward “in the coming weeks and months.” | The US made positive commitments in areas such as investment, and China will work with the US to properly resolve issues related to TikTok. |
| Chips | China will negotiate directly with companies like Nvidia. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Blackwell chips were “not discussed” during the meeting.China will resume trade from Nexperia’s facilities in China, according to a White House statement.China will terminate various probes targeting US firms in the semiconductor supply chain. | No mention. |
| Trade Probe | The US will continue an investigation into China’s compliance with a trade deal from Trump’s first term, Greer says. | No mention. |
| Energy | China will purchase more US energy, likely including a “very large scale” transaction involving Alaskan oil and gas. | No mention. |
| Unreliable entity list | China will suspend or remove all of the retaliatory non-tariff countermeasures since March 4, 2025, including listing of certain US companies on its unreliable entity list, White House says. | No mention. |
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