<h1>U.S. and China signal preliminary de-escalation after ASEAN talks; trade disputes, tariffs, export controls still unresolved</h1> U.S.-China trade tensions eased after talks at an ASEAN summit, with the U.S. president and the Chinese leader reporting a 'preliminary consensus' and preparing for a bilateral meeting following disputes over rare-earth export curbs and threats of large additional U.S. tariffs. The summit also saw a ceasefire agreement between two Southeast Asian neighbors, partly attributed to U.S. economic pressure, and the U.S. signing trade and critical-minerals deals with regional partners to diversify supply chains. Officials signalled a possible rollback of escalation, but key issues such as tariffs, export controls and long-term enforcement remain unresolved.