Chicago – October 26, 2025
US President Donald Trump has arrived in Malaysia for a busy week of meetings with Asian leaders, including stops in Japan and South Korea.
• The stakes are particularly high for Trump’s sit-down with Chinese leader Xi Jinping next week. After months of relative calm, the US and China have slapped each other with sweeping trade measures in recent weeks, straining relations between the rival powers.
• US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer expressed optimism for a potential US-China trade deal, telling reporters in Kuala Lumpur that negotiators are “moving forward to the final details of the type of agreement that the leaders can review and decide if they want to conclude together.”
• Before he arrived in Asia, Trump announced a hike in tariffs on Canada, addressed peace efforts in Gaza and Ukraine, and previewed his meetings with key leaders in comments made during the long-haul flight.
