Trump hints Xi meeting may still collapse ahead of Apec summit
President Donald Trump said Tuesday he anticipates reaching a favorable trade agreement with Chinese leader Xi Jinping at next week’s regional summit. The 79-year-old American leader cautioned that the meeting could still be canceled if circumstances change. Trump announced plans in September for his first encounter with Xi since returning to office and a visit in early 2025.
The president threatened to impose substantial tariffs on Beijing after China restricted rare earth mineral exports in October, but later reversed his position. Trump recently confirmed the meeting remains scheduled and his China trip is set for early next year. The American leader has shown similar inconsistency with other world leaders, initially announcing plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest before the White House said no immediate meeting was planned.
