Americast – Are the U.S and China about to end their trade war?
BBC News | October 29, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Americast dives into two headline issues shaping U.S. politics and foreign policy in late 2025:

• Donald Trump’s high-profile tour through Asia, culminating in a much-anticipated meeting with President Xi Jinping of China, with speculation around the possibility of ending—or at least easing—the long-running U.S.-China trade war.
• The Democratic Party’s existential crisis in the wake of electoral defeat, featuring an in-depth interview with former Biden Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre about party soul-searching, identity politics, and strategy for the future.

Hosts Justin Webb (in London), Sarah Smith (in D.C.), and Anthony Zurcher (reporting from South Korea) provide both on-the-ground reportage and analysis, followed by Webb's probing conversation with Karine Jean-Pierre for big-picture insight into the Democrats’ future.

1. Trump’s Asia Tour & The U.S.-China Trade Talks

Trump’s Arrival and the Pomp of Diplomacy

[01:27–03:07]

• Anthony Zurcher reports live from Busan, South Korea after following Trump’s Asia trip. He details the dramatic welcome:
  • Military band playing “YMCA” for Trump, gun salutes, and an extravagant gift:

    “It was a copy of an ancient Korean crown, very, very shiny, gold, covered in gemstones. It's a huge, really, really tall crown that Donald Trump looked delighted to receive and could see no irony at all… It was a masterstroke, I think, from the South Koreans.” — Sarah Smith [02:27]

• Each country on the tour (Malaysia, Japan, South Korea) goes to great lengths, from gifts to orchestrated welcome ceremonies, “trying to curry Trump's favor.”
  • “Add another peace deal to Donald Trump's growing list that he likes to tout.” — Anthony Zurcher [04:40]

Air Force One Insights & Trump’s Optimism

[06:45–07:48]

• Anthony recalls Trump coming back to the press pool on Air Force One, noting his optimism:

  “He said a lot of groundwork had already been laid in meetings by his Treasury Secretary, Scott Besant, and that he wasn't going to that meeting cold. He knew what was going to happen and he thought that good things were going to result.” — Anthony Zurcher [06:48]

The U.S.-China Trade Standoff: Tensions and Shifts

[10:05–14:39]

• Trump’s tone on China had recently softened, moving from fiery threats about tariffs and rare earth mineral export controls to more conciliatory language about President Xi and deals in the works.
• He expresses optimism for a deal:

  “The President Xi of China is coming tomorrow here, and we're going to be, I hope, making a deal. I think we're going to have a deal. I think it'll be a good deal… that’s better than fighting…” — Donald Trump [11:00]

• Key possible deal points:
  • China resuming purchase of U.S. soybeans.
  • Progress on TikTok (possible handover of control to American interests).
  • Fentanyl measures.
  • Chinese concessions or pauses on rare earth export restrictions.
  • U.S. backing away from threatened 100% tariffs.
• Both the administration and markets are “optimistic,” but “nothing is decided until they sit in the room,” reminded Anthony.
  • “China… doesn't want to give Donald Trump an easy win. But… the United States and China might be on a precipice of something a little more normalized.” — Anthony Zurcher [12:42]

U.S. Domestic Reaction and Political Risks

[12:42–14:39]

• There’s MAGA-world and conservative unease that a broad deal with China might undermine U.S. technological leadership, especially around semiconductors and Taiwan.
  • “There are China hawks… within Donald Trump's administration… concerns about Chinese ownership of American land or businesses, and the malign influence…” — Anthony Zurcher [13:28]
  • Trump is balancing “walking a fine line” between deterrence and economic risk; saber-rattling causes U.S. markets to tank, so he’s incentivized to find compromise.

Reflection: Are We Simply Resetting?

[14:39–15:39]

• Discussion about whether any breakthrough is just a return to pre-tariff status, regaining lost ground rather than real change, as mirrored by the recent advantageous U.S.–South Korea deal.

2. Diplomacy and Culinary Diplomacy: A Taste of Ego-Politics

[15:39–17:29]

• In-depth description of Trump’s lunch menu with South Korean president, designed to appeal to his ego and Americana (e.g., US beef with kimchi, a “peacemaker’s dessert” with gold)—a metaphor for the flattery strategies on this tour.
• But, “China doesn't operate that way… Xi is going to be meeting with Donald Trump at an airport. No glamour, no glitz…” — Anthony Zurcher [15:39]

3. Beyond Trade: Taiwan and Human Rights Pressure Points

[17:29–18:59]

• Complications extend to Taiwan and the continued detention of British citizen and Hong Kong activist Jimmy Lai.

  • Trump surprisingly hints he “might talk to Xi about it,” noting he often adds such points to broad negotiating lists, even as he “brushed off” pressing China on Taiwan.
  • “It's kind of a confusing game that Trump is playing on whether he wants to be confrontational… or whether he wants to try to back off.” — Anthony Zurcher [18:17]

• Sarah summarizes Trump’s likely negotiation tactic: start with “a long list of complaints… (then) he'll back down from that and they'll agree a few points.” [19:54]

4. The Democratic Party in Disarray: Interview with Karine Jean-Pierre

[21:43–35:56]

The Party “Lost its Soul”

[21:43–23:55]

• Former Biden Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre offers a scathing assessment:

  “The party is lost… they were giving up their power… there continues to be no fight… they're throwing communities under the bus.” — Karine Jean-Pierre [21:43]

  • Specifics: LGBTQ and immigrant communities being sidelined “because mentioning them doesn’t poll test well.”
  • Her personal stake: “I'm obviously a black woman. I also am part of the queer community. I'm also an immigrant. And when you hear things like that, ...then you feel like you're not representing and no one's fighting for you.” [22:43]

Moral Ground vs. Political Strategy

[24:29–25:54]

• On divisive issues (e.g., trans athletes in sports), she advocates for moral clarity over poll-driven strategy:

  “We should stand on moral ground and really, really, really try to do our best to protect people who feel vulnerable.”

  • Webb pushes back, warning about “electoral suicide,” but Jean-Pierre insists:

    “Don't have the debate. Just say where you stand and move forward and focus on things that will move the country forward. Focus on the economy… Focus on democracy.” [24:52]

On Candidates and Future Direction

[26:27–29:53]

• Inspired by grassroots candidates like Zoran Mamdani for connecting with voters directly.
  • “He has done something that you don’t see politicians, certainly Democrats doing, which is going directly to the American people… And so those are the things that are missing.” [26:33]
• Emphasizes need for "big tent" politics but with clear values—advocates candidates actually listening and championing real issues, not just those that “poll well.”

Reflections on the 2024 Election—Mistakes, Kamala Harris, and Accountability

[29:53–34:58]

• Jean-Pierre is forthright about doubts that Kamala Harris could win after taking over from Biden, attributing this to both personal lived experience as a minority and the realities of U.S. politics.
• She acknowledges party-wide and personal accountability for 2024 loss:

  “In the loss of 2024, I agree with you. We all should take accountability…. I do as well, in what happened. I believe in the time, the summer of 2024, the way Democrats behaved actually hurt us.” [32:12]

• The party’s error: “There was an incumbency issue… the economy—even though it was improving, people weren’t feeling it… And so it’s not just the person, it’s the party. It’s the party that has the power.” [33:38]

Looking to 2028 and the State of U.S. Democracy

[35:07–35:52]

• Jean-Pierre deflects on 2028 candidate predictions, emphasizing the real-time threats to democracy and U.S. elections already underway.
  • “We got to get out of 2025. We got to get out of 2026. We have a president who is already right now in 2025 is saying that he wants his Justice Department to monitor elections that are happening just this year. We have a president who is essentially saying he's going to cheat in 2026.” [35:25]

5. Hosts’ Debrief: What’s Next for the Democrats?

[35:59–40:09]

• Webb and Smith express concern at Jean-Pierre’s analysis:
  • “If I had any position at all in the Democratic Party, I think I would have my head and my hands listening to it... the lack of insight into how badly everything went wrong was what really took me aback.” — Sarah Smith [35:59]
• The party’s struggle with “purity tests” and identity politics is noted as a persistent trap; Sarah notes Jean-Pierre was unwilling to consider if Democrats should rethink strict litmus tests for candidates in conservative districts.
• The discussion closes with the clear sense the Democrats remain in disarray, with no consensus on the path forward.

6. Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• “The Trump circus goes east.” — Justin Webb [03:07]
• “Add another peace deal to Donald Trump's growing list that he likes to tout.” — Anthony Zurcher [04:40]
• “It was almost a little nauseating, what some of these countries are doing. But China doesn't operate that way.” — Anthony Zurcher [15:39]
• “He said Taiwan is Taiwan, whatever that means…” — Anthony Zurcher [18:17]
• “The party is lost. I feel as if the party has lost their soul.” — Karine Jean-Pierre [21:43]
• “We should stand on moral ground… not about politics, moral compass to doing the right thing and standing up for people who are afraid…” — Karine Jean-Pierre [25:06]
• “When 7 million people came out for the No Kings rally... that is something to tap into.” — Karine Jean-Pierre [28:18]
• “It's empirically the case, isn't it? They tried these purity tests… and it didn't work out terribly well.” — Justin Webb [39:16]

7. Key Timestamps for Quick Reference

• 01:27–03:07 — Opening scene from Busan, South Korea and Trump’s welcome.
• 04:40–07:48 — Details of Trump’s Asia tour, Air Force One impressions, market optimism.
• 10:05–14:39 — Deep dive into the substance of U.S.-China negotiations and MAGA skepticism.
• 15:39–17:29 — Diplomacy through menu: South Korean lunch with Trump; contrasting China’s approach.
• 18:17–19:54 — Taiwan, Hong Kong, negotiating strategy analysis.
• 21:43–35:56 — Interview: Karine Jean-Pierre on the Democratic Party’s failures and path forward.

Closing Reflection

With Trump’s unpredictable but showstopping diplomacy possibly moving the needle on U.S.-China trade, and the Democratic Party still searching for its north star after a seismic electoral defeat, this episode captures a moment of American and global political flux. The tone is direct, often critical, and rich with both on-the-ground insights and inside-the-room reflections.

Listen if you want:

• Fresh on-the-ground color from Trump’s latest foreign policy spectacle.
• A candid, unvarnished insider’s view of where (and how) the Democratic Party fell apart.
• Analysis of whether the ongoing U.S.-China trade war is truly about to thaw—or just hit the reset button.