True to form, Trump took a very hard line in public before the meeting, but ultimately settled for a “deal” which did nothing but kick the can down the road. The Chinese, and the rest of the world, are used to that by now; he did it with Kim on his nukes and with the EU on tariffs previously.
The real question now is, what does he really want out of these negotiations? A simple reduction in the trade deficit that he can trumpet as a “win” for farmers and investors? Managed trade? Real protection for intellectual property rights? A fundamental change in the Chinese economy to create a level playing field with the US and Europe? Who knows? Chances are, even he doesn’t, and there is clear disagreement among his advisers.
As usual, just don’t believe anything you hear or see until he signs on the dotted line–and sometimes, even that is too soon.