President Donald Trump has defended his trade war with China by claiming he was “forced” into it, while also admitting that the resulting high-tariff policy is “not sustainable” in the long term.
This framing comes as he prepares for a crucial meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, which he confirmed is happening in two weeks. Trump’s comments suggest he is seeking a deal that would allow him to de-escalate.
“I think we’re going to be fine with China,” Trump said, adding that he “get[s] along great” with Xi. But he tempered this, saying, “I don’t know what’s going to happen. We’ll see what happens.”
The talks are shadowed by a November 10 deadline, when a 90-day trade truce expires. This truce has been the only thing preventing a trade war that saw duties climb to 145%.
Just last week, Trump had threatened 100% tariffs and discussed canceling the meeting. Now, he is justifying the current conflict as a necessary step toward a “fair deal.”