Are the US and China about to end their trade war?

Americast

BBC

Politics, Government, News

4.2 • 2.8K Ratings

🗓️ 29 October 2025

⏱️ 41 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

President Donald Trump is topping off his whirlwind trip around Asia with a long-anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday. After months of an escalating trade war, Trump says a “good deal” is close to being agreed. It also includes negotiations on TikTok's US operations.

Anthony joins Sarah and Justin from South Korea, where he’s been hot on the president’s heels throughout his trip, to discuss how the meeting is expected to go and how much difference it could make to everyday Americans.

And Justin speaks to former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre about her belief that the Democratic Party unfairly pushed Joe Biden out of the 2024 race, and why she thinks they are abandoning LGBTQ issues.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Sarah Smith, North America Editor

GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email [email protected] • Or use #Americast

This episode was made by Rufus Gray and Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Michael Regaard. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast and Ukrainecast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.

Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl Ukrainecast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0bqztzm Radical: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd

Transcript

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0:00.0	BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts.
0:06.5	Conspiracy theories really can impact the way the world works.
0:10.0	Disinformation, you think you're winning.
0:12.3	There could be a thousand deep face.
0:14.0	But it's because of you, we work 24-7 to verify the facts with digital tools and reporters on the ground.
0:21.8	BBC News, Moscow, Lecois.
0:23.8	In the West Bank.
0:24.6	So, no matter how quickly disinformation spreads, we'll be ready.
0:30.0	The fight for truth is on.
0:32.6	Trust is earned.
0:34.0	This is our BBC.
1:04.9	Music This is our BBC. Enough, enough. Yes, that really was. A military band, rendition of President Trump's favorite song, YMCA. It was recorded for us on location by none other than top sound recordist Anthony Zerker.
1:14.6	Anthony, where in earth were you?
1:16.1	What were the circumstances?
1:17.4	It sounds fantastic.
1:19.3	I was at the airport in Busan, South Korea.
1:23.0	We had just landed on Air Force One, and the South Koreans had rolled out the red carpet for Donald Trump.
1:28.5	They had that military marching ban.
1:30.6	They had a 21 gun salute.
1:32.9	They had all these dignitaries welcoming him.
1:35.6	When he came down the staircase, they played hail to the chief.
1:38.7	The cannon shot off.
	...

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