Overview
- U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met with China's Vice Premier He Lifeng in Geneva on Saturday to discuss de-escalating trade tensions.
- The talks focus on reducing tariffs that have reached 145% on Chinese imports and 125% on U.S. goods, effectively halting bilateral trade and disrupting global markets.
- President Trump suggested lowering tariffs to 80% but conditioned reductions on reciprocal actions by China, a move seen as a potential step toward easing the conflict.
- Analysts and officials anticipate limited progress during the weekend discussions, viewing them as an opportunity to establish a framework for future negotiations rather than achieving a comprehensive agreement.
- The World Trade Organization welcomed the talks as a constructive step, emphasizing the importance of sustained dialogue between the world's two largest economies for global economic stability.