Later today, China’s President Xi Jinping will meet his American counterpart President Donald Trump in the Florida resort of Mar-a Lago. This meeting is happening under the shadow of North Korea’s firing of a missile into the Sea of Japan.

The question for observers is not only what will be resolved in the sometimes tense relationship between the two economic giants, but what this meet means for both the respective leaders. The issues on the table will include trade issues and the huge US trade deficit with China, which last year accounted for about 60% of its overall deficit of US$500 billion.

This is a report by Sharaad Kuttan.