In a surprising moment of candor, President Donald Trump described his own administration’s tariff policy against China as “not sustainable,” signaling potential fatigue with the protracted trade war.
Speaking in an interview, Trump was asked about the tariffs that have reached as high as 145%. “It’s not sustainable,” he replied, before adding the caveat: “But… they forced me to do that.”
This admission comes as Trump confirms a high-stakes meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in two weeks. He projected optimism, stating, “I think we’re going to be fine with China,” but also noted, “China is always looking for an edge.”
The diplomatic meeting is overshadowed by a ticking clock. The latest 90-day truce in the trade war is set to expire on November 10. Without a new deal, the conflict could re-escalate dramatically.
Just last week, Trump had threatened to cancel the Xi meeting and impose a new 100% tariff. Now, he emphasizes the goal of a “fair deal,” justifying the “unsustainable” tariffs as necessary leverage to avoid being “exposed as being a nothing.”
