Trump Confirms Xi Meeting, Balancing ‘Not Sustainable’ Tariffs with ‘Fair Deal’ Demand

President Donald Trump is balancing a major admission with a firm demand as he confirms a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in two weeks. He acknowledged the high tariffs on China are “not sustainable” but reiterated his demand for a “fair deal.”
In a recent interview, Trump painted the tariffs as a reluctant measure. “It’s not sustainable,” he said. “But… they forced me to do that.” This rhetoric sets the stage for negotiations where he can offer to roll back the “unsustainable” policy in return for concessions.
The president expressed hope for the meeting, citing his strong personal relationship with Xi. “I get along great with him,” Trump said, adding, “I think we’re going to be fine.”
This summit comes just before a November 10 deadline when the current 90-day trade truce expires. Failure to reach an agreement could restart the tariff war, which has seen duties threaten 145% and has stoked fears of a global slowdown.
Just last week, Trump threatened 100% tariffs and mulled canceling the meeting. Now, he justifies the trade war as a necessary, if painful, step toward his goal of a “fair” relationship.