Trump: ‘If We Didn’t Have Tariffs, We Would Be Exposed as a Nothing’

President Donald Trump offered a stark defense of his trade war with China, arguing, “If we didn’t have tariffs, we would be exposed as being a nothing.” This justification came even as he admitted the policy is “not sustainable.”
This dual messaging sets the stage for a critical meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in two weeks. Trump claims China “forced” him into the “unsustainable” policy, framing the tariffs as a necessary evil.
The president expressed cautious optimism about the talks. “I get along great with him [Xi],” Trump said. “I think we’re going to be fine with China,” he added, while also noting, “I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
A 90-day truce in the trade war is set to expire on November 10. This deadline adds immense pressure to the upcoming meeting, which is expected to take place at the APEC summit in South Korea.
Trump’s ultimate goal is a “fair deal.” His rhetoric, swinging from threats of 100% tariffs to hopes for a deal, suggests a high-stakes negotiation is imminent.