President Donald Trump is deflecting all blame for his “not sustainable” tariff strategy, pointing the finger squarely at Beijing by claiming “they forced me to do that.”
This blame-casting comes as Trump confirmed he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in two weeks. His admission that the tariffs are “not sustainable” may be an opening for a deal, but his rhetoric ensures China must be seen as conceding.
“I think we’re going to be fine with China,” Trump said, “but we have to have a fair deal. It’s got to be fair.” He also expressed wariness, noting “China is always looking for an edge.”
The meeting, likely at the APEC summit, is critical. A 90-day truce that has paused the trade war—which saw tariffs threaten 145%—expires on November 10.
Trump continues to justify the tariffs as a necessary evil, arguing that without them, the US “would be exposed as being a nothing.”