A crucial meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to take place in two weeks, coming just as Trump has publicly admitted his administration’s high-tariff strategy is “not sustainable.”
The president’s admission signals a potential shift in tone, even as he maintains a tough stance. When asked about the tariffs, Trump was clear: “It’s not sustainable,” but quickly pivoted to blame, “they forced me to do that.”
Despite this, Trump projected a personal confidence in his relationship with the Chinese leader. “I get along great with him,” Trump said of Xi, adding, “I think we’re going to be fine with China.” This optimism is balanced by his caution that “China is always looking for an edge.”
The two leaders are expected to meet at the APEC summit in South Korea. Their discussion will be shadowed by a November 10 deadline, when a 90-day trade truce is set to expire. Failure to reach an agreement could reignite the trade war.
Trump insists the conflict is about fairness. “We have to have a fair deal. It’s got to be fair,” he stated. He defended the tariffs as a necessary tool, arguing that without them, the US “would be exposed as being a nothing.”