Trump Confirms Xi Meeting, Seeks ‘Fair Deal’ Amid ‘Not Sustainable’ Tariffs

President Donald Trump is moving forward with a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in two weeks, where he will push for a “fair deal” to end a trade war he now admits is “not sustainable.”
In a recent interview, Trump acknowledged the long-term problem with the tariffs. “It’s not sustainable,” he said, “But… they forced me to do that.” This frames the policy as a temporary, if painful, negotiating tool.
The president expressed hope for the talks, saying, “I get along great with him [Xi]. I think we’re going to be fine.” This is a significant de-escalation from last week when he threatened to cancel the meeting.
The summit, expected at the APEC gathering in South Korea, is critical. A 90-day truce in the trade war expires on November 10, meaning a new deal is urgently needed.
Trump continues to defend the tariffs as necessary. “If we didn’t have tariffs, we would be exposed as being a nothing,” he stated, casting the conflict as a fight for respect.