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Trump's search for a 'grand bargain' with China: How should India respond?
As Washington grows risk-averse and Beijing gains leverage, the Seoul deal reshapes India's geopolitical space
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 "Shyam Saran")
 "U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping talk as they leave after a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Busan, South Korea, October 30, 2025 (Photo: Reuters)")
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping talk as they leave after a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Busan, South Korea, October 30, 2025 (Photo: Reuters)
The United States (US) and China have achieved a temporary pause in their ongoing trade war. In their much-awaited summit in Seoul on October 30, US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Chinese side agreed to suspend its onerous and extraterritorial licensing procedures for the export of rare earths, including processed items and magnets, for one year. The US, in turn, has withdrawn the extension of its entity list to the several thousand subsidiaries of Chinese companies already on the entity list if they had more than 50 per cent of their shares owned by the
Written By
Shyam Saran
Shyam Saran is a Honorary Senior Faculty and Member of the Governing Board at Centre for Policy Research. He is a former Foreign Secretary of India and has served as Prime Minister’s Special Envoy For Nuclear Affairs and Climate Change. After leaving government service in 2010, he headed the Research and Information System for Developing Countries, a think tank focusing on economic issues (2011-2017) and was Chairman of the National Security Advisory Board under the National Security Council (2013-15). He is currently Life Trustee of India International Centre, Member of the Governing Board of the Institute of Chinese Studies, a Trustee at the World Wildlife Fund (India) and Member of the Executive Council of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2011 for his contributions to civil service.
 "Shyam Saran")
First Published: Dec 10 2025 | 7:00 AM IST
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