President Donald Trump is set to embark on a high-stakes tour of Asia aimed at strengthening U.S. access to critical minerals and tightening economic ties with key regional allies – a move that senior administration officials say is designed to increase leverage over Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of a crucial bilateral meeting.
According to briefings from U.S. officials, Trump’s agenda includes signing a series of economic and resource-based agreements with Asian partners to diversify supply chains and secure vital inputs for American industries.
The effort comes amid intensifying tensions with Beijing over tariffs, export controls, and access to rare earth minerals – materials essential to sectors like defense, technology, and clean energy.
The trip will take Trump to Malaysia for the ASEAN summit, followed by visits to Japan and South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings.
It will culminate in a one-on-one discussion with Xi – a potential turning point in the ongoing U.S.–China trade standoff.
Officials said the administration’s priority is to “unlock the region’s resource potential” and establish more reliable supply chains that are less dependent on Chinese exports.
While specific details of the upcoming deals remain under wraps, Trump is expected to pursue partnerships that could funnel billions in new investments toward U.S.-linked mining and processing projects.
Rare earth minerals will likely dominate the talks. China’s recent decision to tighten export restrictions on these critical resources has rattled global markets and drawn sharp criticism from Washington.
The move is widely viewed as Beijing’s attempt to counter U.S. trade pressure – a strategy that Trump appears determined to neutralize.
In response, the president has threatened to impose a 100% tariff on Chinese products by November 1 if Beijing does not ease its restrictions. He has also accelerated efforts to secure alternative supplies.
Earlier this week, Trump signed an $8.5 billion agreement with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese aimed at expanding U.S. access to Australia’s rich mineral reserves – a significant step toward reducing dependency on China’s dominant position in the market.
Trump’s push in Asia also comes as his administration opens a new investigation into whether Beijing has honored commitments under a limited trade pact signed during his first term.
The inquiry could pave the way for additional tariffs and sanctions against Chinese imports.
Beyond trade and minerals, Trump’s meeting with Xi is expected to touch on a broad range of geopolitical issues from the resumption of Chinese purchases of American soybeans to cooperation on curbing fentanyl exports.
Washington is also hoping Xi can use his influence to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to de-escalate the war in Ukraine.
The president’s itinerary includes bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.
Seoul, in particular, is eager to finalize a new trade and investment agreement with Washington aimed at lowering tariffs and expanding industrial cooperation.
As Trump prepares for the high-profile summit, his message is clear: securing America’s economic and strategic independence from China remains a central pillar of his foreign policy and Asia’s resource-rich economies are key to achieving it.
Source: Yahoo Finance
