President Donald Trump is predicting a “fantastic meeting” with Chinese President Xi Jinping, suggesting the talks could resolve a new spat in the ongoing trade war.
“We are gonna be (having) a fantastic meeting,” Trump said in Japan, ahead of his trip to South Korea. The “big meeting” is scheduled for Thursday on the sidelines of the APEC summit.
The need for a resolution is urgent. A recent escalation saw China impose export controls on rare earths, prompting the US to threaten 100% tariffs on Chinese goods.
This tit-for-tat, which also includes US port fees and Chinese countermeasures, has shattered a recent period of calm.
Despite the friction, Trump was insistent on a positive outcome. “I think it’s going to work out very well, actually. It’s gonna be great for everybody,” he stated.