Trump cuts fentanyl-related tariffs on China, says agreement on rare earths controls

President Donald Trump said he is reducing some tariffs on Chinese imports following a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping after securing a commitment from the Chinese leader to take steps to stop the flow of fentanyl.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One following the meeting with Xi, which lasted about 1 hour and 45 minutes, Trump said the 20% tariffs on China related to fentanyl were being reduced to 10% bringing the total amount of duties imposed on Chinese imports from 57% to 47%.

PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC summit, in Busan
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping talk as they leave after a bilateral meeting at Gimhae International Airport, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Busan, South Korea, October 30, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

Trump also said the U.S. had reached a 1-year agreement with China that it would not impose dramatic restrictions on rare earth minerals -- materials key for producing computer chips that are needed for everything including smartphones, AI systems and defense technology.

That takes the threat of and additional 100% tariffs on China off the table.

Overall, Trump said the meeting with Xi in South Korea was "amazing," and on a scale of 1 to 10 gave it a 12.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.