“I think it’s going to work out very well, actually,” said US President Donald Trump regarding his forthcoming talks with China’s Xi Jinping. While speaking in Japan, Trump projected confidence ahead of the high-stakes negotiations set for Thursday in South Korea.
The meeting, which Trump described as “big,” is scheduled to occur during the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit. The President emphasized his positive outlook, stating the meeting would be “fantastic” and “great for everybody.”
This summit comes at a critical time. Trade friction between Washington and Beijing has recently flared up again after a period of relative calm. The US has threatened new 100% tariffs on Chinese products starting November 1.
This aggressive tariff threat was in response to China’s move to control exports of rare earths, which are vital for US manufacturing. The economic tit-for-tat didn’t stop there, as the US also pressed through with new port fees on Chinese vessels.
Trump’s Asia trip has largely centered on trade, aiming to highlight America’s influence on the global economy. The meeting with Xi is the centerpiece of this effort, as the world waits to see if the two leaders can de-escalate the costly trade war.