Trump Sees “Very Well” Outcome from Xi Meeting Amid Rare Earths Dispute

President Donald Trump is forecasting a positive outcome for his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, even as a dispute over rare earth minerals threatens to escalate their trade war.
“I think it’s going to work out very well,” Trump said from Tokyo, ahead of the “big meeting” set for Thursday in South Korea. The talks are scheduled to happen on the sidelines of the APEC summit.
Tensions have risen sharply after Beijing moved to control exports of rare earths. The US answered with a significant threat: 100% tariffs on Chinese goods, set to begin on November 1.
This, combined with new US port fees on Chinese ships and subsequent countermeasures, has ended a recent truce in the economic conflict.
Nonetheless, President Trump remained optimistic. “We are gonna be (having) a fantastic meeting,” he said, adding it would be “great for everybody.” He also noted that both leaders have “a lot to talk about.”