President Donald Trump on Tuesday confirmed his “big meeting” with Chinese President Xi Jinping is set for Thursday in South Korea, and he is predicting a positive outcome.
“I will be meeting with President Xi the day after tomorrow,” Trump said from Tokyo. “I think it’s going to work out very well, actually.”
The meeting, held during the APEC summit, comes at a time of renewed trade friction. The US has threatened 100% tariffs on Chinese goods from November 1.
This threat was a direct response to China imposing tight export controls on its rare earth minerals. New US port fees and Chinese countermeasures have further escalated the dispute.
Trump, however, remained confident, calling the upcoming talks “fantastic” and “great for everybody.”
He also indicated that both sides are coming to the table with full agendas. “I have a lot to talk about with President Xi,” Trump said, adding, “the Chinese leader also has a lot to talk about with us.”