Despite criticizing China's imposition of rare earth export restrictions as "hostile," U.S. President Trump clarified today (10/11) that he has not officially canceled the meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. As U.S.-China trade tensions escalate, the public is concerned about whether there is still room for dialogue between the two leaders.

U.S. President Trump stated to the media at the White House on Friday (U.S. time) that although China has recently imposed new restrictions on rare earth exports, which he strongly disapproves of, he has not officially canceled the meeting plans with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump ambiguously pointed out that it is still uncertain whether the two sides will meet, saying, "I will be there, but whether we will meet depends on the situation."

Having previously stated 'there’s no reason to meet,' did Trump suddenly change his tone?

Before this clarification, Trump had once stated that China's restrictions on rare earth exports were 'very hostile actions,' and he 'had no reason' to meet with Xi Jinping. At that time, the outside world generally interpreted it as a breakdown in high-level Sino-U.S. dialogue, which could even reignite a new round of trade conflicts.

However, Trump's latest statement indicates that the U.S. side may still be observing China's subsequent actions and has not completely closed the door to negotiations. He stated at a press conference, 'I haven’t canceled (the meeting), but I’m not sure if it will happen. I will be there, I assume we might meet.'

Such statements reveal Trump's consistent negotiating style: on one hand, he makes tough remarks, and on the other hand, he keeps a margin for maneuver, attempting to strike a balance between pressure and negotiation.

Rare earth restrictions become the fuse, and Sino-U.S. relations tighten again.

Recently, China suddenly announced that it would implement stricter controls on rare earth element exports, requiring exporters to apply for official permits to ship. Since rare earths are crucial for high-tech manufacturing (such as electric vehicles, chips, military equipment, etc.), this move immediately triggered a strong reaction from the U.S. side.

Trump said, 'This is completely unexpected; they suddenly brought up the whole import-export concept, and no one knew about this. It’s simply shocking.'

It is currently unclear whether China's actions are a bargaining chip or a countermeasure against recent U.S. restrictions in the semiconductor and key technology sectors.

Both sides are still in a game of chess, and the key moment for high-level dialogue remains unclear.

Although Trump emphasized that the meeting had not been canceled, there has been no response from the Chinese side regarding whether there is still a willingness to talk or specific arrangements. Whether both sides can hold the leaders' meeting as scheduled in November will directly affect subsequent trade policies and geopolitical patterns.

In addition, Trump revealed that starting from November 1, 2025, the United States will impose 100% punitive tariffs on China and simultaneously restrict key software exports, unless China makes adjustments before then. Trump did not rule out the possibility of retracting tariffs, emphasizing that 'it depends on what happens next,' indicating that there is still room for policy maneuvering.

Observers believe that Trump's reserved stance on meeting Xi Jinping may be a diplomatic strategy. On one hand, he exerts pressure on China through tariffs and export restrictions, while on the other hand, he keeps the window for negotiations open, trying to force concessions from the Chinese side.

Trump has always been good at the negotiating tactic of 'preemptive strikes.' In the recent rare earth restrictions incident, he still adopted a pattern of first being tough and then leaving a way out. In the coming weeks, whether both sides will resume high-level dialogue will become the focus of global political and economic markets.

This article indicates that Trump is cautious: the meeting with Xi Jinping has not been canceled, and is there still room for high-level Sino-U.S. dialogue? First appeared in Lian News ABMedia.