President Donald Trump shakes hands with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung as he receives a gift of a gold crown and an award of the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, not seen, during a high honor ceremony at the Gyeongju National Museum in Gyeongju, South Korea, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
hide caption
toggle caption
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
President Trump recently concluded his week-long visit to Asia, attending various summits and meetings with world leaders.
Here are five key takeaways from his trip:
1) U.S.-China trade relations stabilize
During his meeting with President Xi, Trump announced a reduction in tariff rates on Chinese exports and agreements on other trade issues.
China agreed to resume soybean purchases from the U.S. and ease restrictions on rare earth exports.
2) Finalized trade deal pending
While progress was made, a comprehensive trade deal is yet to be finalized.
Experts believe the meeting between Trump and Xi has laid the groundwork for further negotiations.
3) Diplomacy through flattery
Leaders in Asia employed charm offensives to appeal to Trump’s personal style of diplomacy.
Trump was greeted with grand gestures and accolades during his visit.
4) Trump’s peacekeeping efforts
Despite his tough stance in other areas, Trump emphasized his role as a peacemaker in Asia.
He facilitated a peace agreement between Cambodia and Thailand and expressed willingness to address tensions in the Korean Peninsula.
5) Congressional challenges persist
While making deals abroad, Trump faces challenges at home with a government shutdown and funding issues.
His return to Washington was met with political gridlock, with discussions on funding and healthcare unresolved.
