Trump–Xi Talks End Without Trade Deal

US President Donald Trump has left South Korea following high-stakes talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with no trade agreement announced despite heightened expectations.

The two leaders met early Thursday morning, shaking hands at the close of their discussions before departing separately.

While officials had hinted at progress on resolving trade tensions, the talks ended without a breakthrough, leaving uncertainty hanging over the world’s two largest economies.

The latest round of diplomacy followed a fragile truce reached in May, which had seen both sides scale back retaliatory tariffs that had soared beyond 100 percent.

Yet, tensions have resurfaced as both Washington and Beijing hardened their stances in recent weeks.

Analysts say the meeting was meant to calm markets and reset the tone after months of escalating rhetoric, but the absence of concrete outcomes suggests deep divisions remain on key issues, including technology transfers and export controls.

Observers had also expected an announcement on the pending sale of TikTok’s US operations, a deal seen as a litmus test for the wider trade relationship.

However, no progress was confirmed.

Hours before the meeting, Trump took to Truth Social, ordering the US Department of War to begin “immediate” testing of America’s nuclear weapons, a statement that drew sharp criticism from arms control advocates and reportedly added tension to the talks.

Chinese officials entered the talks projecting confidence, buoyed by recent economic data and renewed partnerships with regional allies.

“Xi walked in with leverage,” said one Beijing-based analyst. “The US needs stability heading into the election cycle, while China can afford to wait.”

As Trump’s motorcade departed Seoul en route to Tokyo, the White House released a brief statement describing the meeting as “productive and candid”, diplomatic phrasing often used when substantive progress remains elusive.

For now, the trade truce holds but the uncertainty surrounding US–China relations deepens once again. Agencies