Overview
- The president departed for Malaysia, Japan and South Korea, with the itinerary anchored by a face‑to‑face with Xi on Oct. 30 in South Korea announced by the White House.
- U.S. and Chinese economic teams launched consultations in Kuala Lumpur to prepare the leaders’ meeting after reciprocal tariffs and new Chinese export controls on rare‑earth minerals.
- Senior U.S. officials say the Xi session will focus on trade and the economic relationship, with discussions expected to touch tariffs, agricultural purchases, technology controls and fentanyl.
- The White House says Trump will sign a series of economic agreements on the trip and will preside over a Thailand‑Cambodia peace accord signing at the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur.
- Tokyo talks with new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi are set for early next week, with Reuters reporting Japan may propose increased purchases of U.S. goods as markets watch an early‑November tariff deadline; a Kim Jong‑un meeting is not on the schedule, officials say.