President Donald Trump is downplaying recent trade friction with China, instead focusing on a “fantastic meeting” he has planned with President Xi Jinping this Thursday.
From Tokyo, Trump exuded confidence about the talks, which will be held in South Korea during the APEC summit. “I think it’s going to work out very well,” he stated.
This optimism comes just after a major escalation in the trade war. The US threatened 100% tariffs on Chinese goods in response to Beijing’s new export controls on rare earth minerals.
This recent exchange of economic blows, which also includes new US port fees and countermeasures from China, has put global markets on edge.
Trump, however, projected success. He called it a “big meeting” that would be “great for everybody,” suggesting a deal to ease tensions could be within reach.