Truce story: (a sketch of) a Trump-Xi trade deal
The Intelligence from The Economist
The Economist
4.6 • 3.6K Ratings
🗓️ 31 October 2025
⏱️ 27 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping agreed to holster their trade weapons for now. But even if the deal holds, it does not address the deeper problems in the relationship. We examine why mercenaries—and slick international firms that employ them—are doing a roaring trade these days. And a Halloween look at what our correspondent calls a golden age of horror.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The Economist |
| 0:02.0 | Hello and welcome to the intelligence from The Economist. |
| 0:11.0 | I'm your host, Jason Palmer. |
| 0:15.0 | Every weekday we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world. |
| 0:31.9 | The job title of mercenary seems niche, maybe anachronistic, but you find hired guns in conflicts all over the world. These days, though, many are part of big, slick, international businesses, |
| 0:38.3 | which prefer to be known as private military contractors. |
| 0:42.3 | And if you're not out trick-or-treating tonight, maybe go see a scary flick. |
| 0:48.3 | There are plenty to choose from. |
| 0:50.3 | Box office receipts for frightful films are up more than four times in the past decade. |
| 0:55.1 | Our correspondent says we are living in a golden age of horror. |
| 1:01.6 | But first... |
| 1:07.0 | President Donald Trump wrapped up his Asian tour yesterday after stops in Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, |
| 1:16.9 | each marked by a lavish welcome. |
| 1:20.7 | In Kuala Lumpur, dancers in gold-threaded garments greeted him. |
| 1:25.3 | Japan's new prime minister, Takaichi Sanai, gave him, among other things, |
| 1:29.3 | 250 cherry trees, |
| 1:31.3 | which might test his Air Force One baggage allowance. |
| 1:34.3 | And in South Korea, a 21-gun salute and a military band. |
| 1:43.3 | But the most anticipated part of the tour happened in the South Korean city of Busan, |
| 1:49.0 | where Mr. Trump met with someone he hadn't seen in six years. |
| 1:53.0 | President, she is a great leader of a great country, |
| 1:57.0 | and I think we're going to have a fantastic relationship for a long period of time. |
... |
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