President Donald Trump appears to be softening his rhetoric, if only slightly, ahead of a crucial summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. In a recent interview, Trump labeled the high tariffs on Chinese goods as “not sustainable.”
This comment marks a departure from his usually robust defense of the trade measures. However, he quickly followed it by asserting that he was “forced” into the policy by China’s own actions.
The president confirmed the meeting with Xi is set for two weeks from now, likely at the APEC summit in South Korea. “I get along great with him,” Trump said, expressing hope that “we’re going to be fine with China.”
This diplomatic outreach follows a period of high tension. Last week, Trump had threatened to impose an additional 100% tariff by November 1 and even suggested he might skip the Xi meeting altogether.
With a 90-day trade truce expiring on November 10, the clock is ticking. Trump’s bottom line remains firm: “We have to have a fair deal.” He continues to justify the current conflict as necessary for achieving that goal.