A critical meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled for two weeks from now, with Trump recently admitting that the ongoing tariff war is “not sustainable.”
The president’s frank assessment—”It’s not sustainable”—was delivered in an interview where he also laid blame on China, claiming “they forced me to do that.” This suggests a desire for a resolution, but not at any cost.
Trump expressed a personal rapport with his counterpart, saying, “I get along great with him.” This relationship forms the basis for his cautious optimism: “I think we’re going to be fine with China.”
However, the stakes are rising. A 90-day truce that has kept the trade war at bay is set to expire on November 10. This deadline adds urgency to the talks, which are expected to take place at the APEC summit in South Korea.
Despite his admission, Trump stood by the tariffs as a negotiating tool. He previously threatened 100% tariffs by November 1 and insisted that without the current duties, the US “would be exposed as being a nothing.” His primary demand remains a “fair deal.”
