President Donald Trump confirmed he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in two weeks, signaling a renewed diplomatic push while simultaneously admitting his current tariff strategy is “not sustainable.”
In an interview, Trump stressed his core demand: “We have to have a fair deal. It’s got to be fair.” He expressed personal warmth toward Xi, saying “I get along great with him,” and projected optimism that a positive outcome is possible.
However, this optimism was paired with a blunt assessment of the tariffs. “It’s not sustainable,” Trump said, before immediately shifting blame. “But… they forced me to do that.” This suggests he views the tariffs as a painful but necessary negotiating tactic.
The trade war has been paused by a 90-day truce, but that agreement is set to expire on November 10. This deadline places immense pressure on the upcoming meeting, which is expected to happen at the APEC summit in South Korea.
This diplomatic push follows a recent period of saber-rattling, during which Trump threatened to cancel the meeting and impose an additional 100% tariff. He continues to defend the tariffs, stating that without them, the US “would be exposed as being a nothing.”