Trump Blames China for ‘Not Sustainable’ Tariffs, Confirms Xi Meeting

President Donald Trump has confirmed he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in two weeks, using the opportunity to blame China for the “not sustainable” tariffs that have defined their trade war. “They forced me to do that,” he stated.
This comment, acknowledging the policy’s long-term weakness while simultaneously blaming his opponent, comes as a 90-day truce is set to expire on November 10.
Trump expressed a mixed outlook on the talks. He said, “I think we’re going to be fine,” citing his “great” personal relationship with Xi. But he also warned, “China is always looking for an edge. We’ll see what happens.”
The truce has paused a conflict that saw US import taxes on Chinese goods threaten to hit 145%, stoking fears of a global slowdown. The APEC summit meeting in South Korea will be critical to avoiding a re-escalation.
Trump’s goal remains a “fair deal.” He continues to defend the trade war, arguing that the tariffs are essential leverage and that without them, the US would be “exposed as being a nothing.”