nuclear-news

Trump to reduce tariffs on Beijing amid resumed US nuclear weapons testing order

ABC News. 30 Oct 25

In short:

Donald Trump says he has struck a deal with China’s Xi Jinping to reduce tariffs on Beijing in exchange for resumed US soybean purchases.

The meeting came shortly after Mr Trump ordered the Department of Defense to immediately resume testing nuclear weapons.

US President Donald Trump says he has struck a deal with China’s Xi Jinping to reduce tariffs on Beijing in exchange for resumed US soybean purchases, shortly after saying he would order the resumption of US nuclear weapons testing.

His remarks after the face-to-face talks with Mr Xi in the South Korean city of Busan — their first since 2019 — marked the finale of Mr Trump’s whirlwind Asia trip on which he also touted trade breakthroughs with South Korea, Japan and South-East Asia nations.

“I thought it was an amazing meeting,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One shortly after he departed Busan, adding that tariffs imposed on Chinese imports would be cut to 47 per cent from 57 per cent. 

Mr Trump also told reporters the pair would work to keep rare earths exports flowing and crack down on the illicit trade of fentanyl………………………………………………………..

Ahead of the meeting, Mr Trump ordered the Department of Defense to immediately resume testing nuclear weapons on an “equal basis” with other nuclear powers.

“Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately,” Mr Trump said on Truth Social.

President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday Russia had successfully tested a Poseidon nuclear-powered super torpedo that military analysts say is capable of devastating coastal regions by triggering vast radioactive ocean swells.

As Mr Trump has toughened both his rhetoric and his stance on Russia, Mr Putin has publicly flexed his nuclear muscles with the test of a new Burevestnik cruise missile on October 21 and nuclear launch drills on October 22.

The US last tested a nuclear weapon in 1992.

It was not immediately clear whether Mr Trump was referring to nuclear-explosive testing, which would be carried out by the National Nuclear Safety Administration, or flight testing of nuclear-capable missiles……………………………………………….. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-30/trump-orders-resumption-of-nuclear-weapons-testing/105951930

October 31, 2025 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics international, weapons and war