Even as a US threat of 100% tariffs on Chinese goods looms, President Donald Trump is confident his meeting with President Xi Jinping “is going to work out very well.”
The President confirmed the “big meeting” from Tokyo, stating it will happen on Thursday in South Korea. The two leaders will meet on the sidelines of the APEC summit.
The November 1 tariff deadline was set in response to China’s new controls on rare earth exports. This move, along with new US port fees, has triggered a new wave of mutual countermeasures.
This recent escalation has shattered a period of relative calm in the US-China trade relationship, making this APEC meeting a crucial one for the global economy.
“We are gonna be (having) a fantastic meeting,” Trump said, adding it would be “great for everybody.” He also signaled a full agenda, noting, “I have a lot to talk about with President Xi… the Chinese leader also has a lot to talk about with us.”
Trump’s stop in Tokyo was part of his crucial Asia trip. Earlier in the day, he met with Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and spoke to US troops, framing the entire visit around trade and regional influence.