Trump to Visit Japan and South Korea Ahead of APEC Amid Trade Tensions

US President Donald Trump is set to visit Japan later this month, followed by a trip to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed on Wednesday. While the exact dates of Trump’s visit to Japan have not been disclosed, officials said it will occur before APEC begins on October 31.

Speaking at an event in Washington, Bessent stated, “We’re going to do a visit. The president will visit Japan and then move to Korea for the APEC conference, where leaders are scheduled to meet.”

In addition to APEC, Trump is expected to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur from October 26 to 28. During this visit, he will witness the ceremonial signing of a peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, following recent deadly cross-border clashes between the two nations.

Trump’s upcoming Asian tour comes amid rising trade tensions, particularly with China, which is the world’s largest economy after the United States. Earlier this year, a tariff war between Washington and Beijing disrupted global supply chains, with both nations imposing triple-digit tariffs on each other’s goods. Although tensions eased temporarily, China recently announced restrictions on rare earth exports, prompting Trump to threaten a 100 percent tariff on Chinese goods starting November 1.

Despite the trade challenges, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are still expected to meet in South Korea during the APEC summit. Trump had previously suggested the meeting might be canceled in response to China’s rare earth export restrictions, but Bessent expressed confidence that the face-to-face discussion will proceed as planned.

Meanwhile, political uncertainty in Japan adds complexity to Trump’s visit. Sanae Takaichi’s bid to become the country’s first female prime minister faces challenges after the collapse of the ruling coalition last week. Observers say the situation could influence the discussions between Trump and Japanese leaders during his visit.

Trump’s upcoming travels to Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia highlight the United States’ focus on strengthening diplomatic and economic ties in the Asia-Pacific region while managing ongoing trade disputes and geopolitical challenges.