President Donald Trump projected confidence ahead of a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, stating, “I think we’re going to be fine with China.” The crucial summit is scheduled to take place in two weeks.
This optimism comes even as the president admitted the current tariff situation is “not sustainable.” He squared this circle by blaming China for the policy, claiming “they forced me to do that.”
Trump praised his personal rapport with the Chinese leader, saying, “I get along great with him.” However, he also expressed caution, noting, “China is always looking for an edge. We’ll see what happens.”
The meeting is expected to happen at the APEC summit in South Korea, with a major deadline approaching. The 90-day trade truce that has kept the tariff war from escalating is set to expire on November 10.
Just last week, Trump had threatened to cancel the meeting and impose 100% tariffs. Now, he is focused on securing a “fair deal,” justifying the current trade war as a necessary component of his negotiating strategy.