Trump Predicts “Fantastic” Outcome for High-Stakes Xi Meeting

US President Donald Trump has expressed strong optimism about his upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, calling it “fantastic” and predicting it will “work out very well.” Speaking in Tokyo during his Asia trip, Trump confirmed the “big meeting” is set to take place in South Korea this Thursday.
The two leaders are scheduled to talk on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. This meeting is being closely watched as it comes during a significant escalation in trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
The optimism from Trump comes just weeks after the US threatened a heavy new 100% tariff on Chinese goods, slated to begin November 1. This threat was a direct response to Beijing’s decision to implement tight export controls on rare earths, a critical component in many high-tech industries.
This recent flare-up marks the end of a relatively calm period in the US-China trade relationship. The situation further deteriorated when the US imposed additional port fees on Chinese ships, prompting a predictable wave of mutual countermeasures from Beijing.
Despite the economic friction, Trump stated the meeting would be “great for everybody.” He noted that he has “a lot to talk about” with President Xi, adding that he believes the Chinese leader also “has a lot to talk about with us,” signaling a willingness to negotiate.