Trump to Attend Manila ASEAN Summit Before China Visit for APEC Meeting

October 12, 2026

Washington: US President Donald Trump will travel to Manila next month to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit before heading to China for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, the White House has said. The visit comes amid ongoing trade and diplomatic tensions between Washington and New Delhi over tariffs and India’s purchases of Russian oil.

Trump will participate in the ASEAN summit in the Philippine capital on November 16 before travelling to Shenzhen, China, for the APEC summit, scheduled from November 17 to 19, according to a White House official cited by the New York Post on Sunday.

The official said the trip aims to demonstrate America’s commitment to its allies in Southeast Asia and advance US economic and national security objectives.

Trump Expected to Meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Shenzhen

During his visit to China, Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in person for the third time this year, the New York Post reported. Their previous engagements included a meeting in Beijing in May and Xi’s visit to the White House last month.

The upcoming meeting comes as Washington and Beijing continue diplomatic engagement on economic and strategic issues, while differences remain over trade and other regional concerns.

Trump’s planned participation in the two regional summits also underscores the importance his administration has placed on engagement with Asian economies and strengthening US ties across the Indo-Pacific.

Philippines Declares Public Holidays for ASEAN Summit

The Philippines, which holds the ASEAN chairmanship this year, has declared November 16 to 18 non-working days in Metro Manila for the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.

The gatherings will include the East Asia Summit, a regional forum that brings together ASEAN member states and eight partner countries, including India, the United States, China, Japan and Australia.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had indicated in July that Trump was interested in attending the meetings. Rubio made the remarks while participating in ASEAN foreign ministers’ meetings in Manila.

“I think he’d like to. I don’t know what the schedule looks like,” Rubio told reporters at the time, according to ABS-CBN News.

The Philippines has also invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the ASEAN-India Summit and the East Asia Summit.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr Invites PM Modi to Manila

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr renewed his invitation to Modi when the two leaders met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi in September.

“I look forward to receiving Prime Minister Modi in Manila this November,” Marcos said in a statement following the meeting.

If Modi and Trump attend the gatherings, the events could provide an opportunity for engagement between the two leaders as relations between India and the United States remain strained over tariffs and New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil. However, a bilateral meeting between them has not been confirmed in the supplied report.

Last year, Modi attended the ASEAN-India Summit in Kuala Lumpur virtually and sent External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to the East Asia Summit, ruling out an in-person meeting with Trump, who attended the gatherings.

The two leaders last spoke by telephone on September 30, a conversation Modi described as “productive”.

US Tariff Deadline Adds Pressure to India-US Relations

A more immediate issue for New Delhi is the October 18 deadline under Section 113 of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The legislation provides for duties of up to 100 per cent on goods from certain countries that continue purchasing Russian-origin crude oil or natural gas and fall within the categories specified by the law.

India has been among the largest buyers of Russian crude oil since 2022, making the potential application of the measure an important concern for bilateral trade relations.

The law also provides a waiver mechanism under which the President may waive the duties if he certifies to Congress that doing so is in the national interest of the United States.

The tariff issue has taken on added significance following the Trump administration’s own move to buy Russian diesel. New Delhi has previously criticised what it sees as a double standard in the treatment of energy trade with Russia.

In August 2025, India’s Ministry of External Affairs pointed to continued US imports of Russian products, stating that the United States “continues to import from Russia uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV industry, fertilisers as well as chemicals”.

The disagreement over Russian energy purchases and trade restrictions remains a key issue in the broader India-US relationship as both countries continue diplomatic engagement.

ASEAN and APEC: Key Regional Forums

ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Timor-Leste.

The East Asia Summit brings together ASEAN members and eight partners, including India, the United States, China, Japan and Australia, to discuss regional and international issues.

APEC, meanwhile, is a forum of 21 Pacific Rim economies that promotes economic cooperation and regional trade. India is not a member of APEC.

Trump’s planned participation in the Manila and Shenzhen summits will place the US president at two major regional gatherings in November, with trade, economic cooperation and strategic relations among the key issues shaping the wider diplomatic landscape.