The danger that the world faces from Trump, Prez Xi Jinping's naivety

Each side miscalculates by seeing the other as likely to give in

Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are a bit alike, and that presents a danger to the global order.

The American and Chinese leaders are both impetuous, authoritarian and overconfident nationalists, and each appears to underestimate the other side’s capacity to inflict pain. This dangerous symmetry leaves the two sides hurtling toward each other.

The 10 per cent tariffs already imposed in the trade war are scheduled to rise to 25 per cent in January, but there’s also a broader confrontation emerging.

Trump and Xi may well be able to reach a ceasefire in their trade war when they meet for the Group