Trump on Trade: ‘Forced’ to Act, ‘Not Sustainable’ Policy

President Donald Trump has defined his trade policy on China as a reluctant-but-necessary action, claiming he was “forced” to implement tariffs that he now admits are “not sustainable.”
This narrative was laid out in an interview where Trump confirmed he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in two weeks. “It’s not sustainable,” Trump said of the tariffs. “But… they forced me to do that.”
This framing allows Trump to seek a deal to end the “unsustainable” policy while claiming any resolution is a victory he forced from Beijing.
“I think we’re going to be fine with China,” Trump said, citing his “great” personal relationship with Xi. This is a sharp reversal from last week’s threats to cancel the summit.
The talks are time-sensitive, with a 90-day trade truce expiring on November 10. Trump’s goal remains a “fair deal,” arguing the tariffs are necessary to avoid being “exposed as being a nothing.”