Pivoting sharply from last week’s threats, President Donald Trump has confirmed he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in two weeks, striking a newly optimistic tone.
“I get along great with him,” Trump said of Xi. “I think we’re going to be fine with China.” This is a significant reversal from just days ago, when he threatened 100% tariffs by November 1 and discussed canceling the summit.
Along with this diplomatic pivot, Trump made a new admission: the high tariffs on China are “not sustainable.” He continues to blame China, claiming “they forced” him, but the admission itself suggests a desire for a deal.
The meeting, expected at the APEC summit in South Korea, is time-sensitive. A 90-day truce that has paused the trade war is set to expire on November 10.
Trump’s core demand remains a “fair deal.” He continues to justify the current conflict as a necessary tool to achieve that goal.