The Chinese president believes he has learned from past failures with his American counterpart, whom he is set to meet again on Thursday in South Korea. He has notably used rare earth elements, crucial to new technologies, as a powerful bargaining chip.

Talks on Thursday will centre on tariffs as Trump seeks to end a bruising trade war with Beijing, while Taiwan and Russia are also likely to be discussed

TOKYO: US President Donald Trump heads Wednesday for South Korea, where a key meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping could produce a truce in the blistering trade war between the…