Trump Confirms Xi Summit, Says China ‘Forced’ His ‘Not Sustainable’ Tariff Policy

President Donald Trump has confirmed he will proceed with a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in two weeks, framing his “not sustainable” tariff policy as a measure that China “forced” upon him.
This narrative allows the president to simultaneously criticize the tariffs’ long-term viability while blaming his negotiating opponent for their existence. “It’s not sustainable,” Trump said, “But… they forced me to do that.”
The president expressed personal confidence in his counterpart, Xi Jinping, with whom he says he “get[s] along great.” This relationship, he implies, could pave the way for a resolution, stating, “I think we’re going to be fine.”
However, he remains cautious, noting “China is always looking for an edge” and “I don’t know what’s going to happen.” The meeting, likely at the APEC summit in South Korea, comes ahead of a November 10 expiration of the current trade truce.
Trump’s core demand is a “fair deal.” He continues to defend the trade war, arguing that the tariffs—which had threatened to reach 145%—are the only thing giving the US leverage in the talks.