By Angelo Giuliano
The Big Photo-Op That Fooled No One
President Trump met China's leader Xi Jinping on October 30, 2025, in Busan, South Korea. Cameras flashed, hands were shaken, and Trump called it a "massive victory." He even called Xi a "friend." The deal said China would buy millions of tons of American soybeans and stop blocking rare-earth metals for one year. In return, the US paused some new taxes on Chinese goods. It sounded like a win for Trump. But the real story is hidden in the numbers, and those numbers show America lost ground while China grew stronger. Trump's loud celebration cannot hide the truth: his plan backfired, and Xi's quiet, smart moves paid off.
America's Share of China's Market Crashed
A year ago, about 15 cents of every dollar China earned from exports came from the United States. Today that number is only 10 cents. Sales to America dropped by one-third in just eight months. American factories and shops felt the pain—fewer orders, higher costs, empty shelves. Trump's taxes were meant to hurt China, but they mostly hurt American buyers and workers. Meanwhile, China's total exports grew by more than 6 percent this year. How? Because Chinese companies found new customers everywhere else. Europe bought 10 percent more, Southeast Asia bought 22 percent more, and Africa bought 25 percent more. China did not beg America to come back; it simply walked to other doors that were already open.
Farmers Paid the Highest Price
American farmers were told the trade war would make them rich. Instead, many are broke. Soybean sales to China fell 78 percent. Beef sales fell 40 percent. Fields are full, prices are low, and banks are calling in loans. In the Midwest, farm bankruptcies hit a six-year high. Trump promised help, but the money ran out fast. Some farmers got checks; most got angry. While American grain sat in silos, Brazil and Australia rushed in. Brazil sent record soybeans to China, clearing forests to plant more. Australia sent record beef. These new supply lines are now locked in place. Even if China buys a few American beans again, it will never need the US the way it once did.
China's Smart, Quiet Plan Worked
Xi Jinping never shouted or tweeted. He just worked the room. Over the past year, China signed trade deals with more than 140 countries. It poured money into roads, ports, and factories across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. It made the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership—the world's biggest trade group—even stronger. When Trump closed one door, China opened ten more. Factories kept running, wages kept rising, and China's economy grew 5.2 percent in the first nine months of 2025. Rare-earth metals, electric cars, and other high-tech goods—China makes what the world needs, and now the world buys it from many places, not just America.
This Is Not Peace—It Is a Short Break
The Busan deal is only a 12-month pause. Most taxes stay in place. Trump already talks about "new and smarter" attacks in 2026. China smiles, nods, and keeps building. The next fight will not be about soybeans; it will be about sea lanes, islands, and high-tech control. Proxy battles in the South China Sea or around Taiwan could turn hot fast. Trump plays checkers with loud moves that hurt his own side. Xi plays chess with patient steps that win the board.
The Final Score
America's leverage is gone. Farmers are broke. Factories are quiet. Supply chains have moved. China did not collapse; it grew up. Xi's calm, practical style—diplomacy plus self-reliance—turned Trump's war into China's workout. The deal in Busan is not a trophy; it is a surrender flag wrapped in gold paper. The storm is not over. It is just beginning, and China is holding the stronger umbrella.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.
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