U.S., China Launch Trade Talks in Geneva Amid Tariff War/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Top U.S. and Chinese officials will meet in Switzerland this weekend to discuss the escalating trade war. Tariffs have soared on both sides, pressuring global markets and consumer prices. The meeting marks the first significant dialogue since Trump’s tariff-driven standoff began.
U.S.-China Trade Talks Quick Looks
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Rep. Jamieson Greer to meet Chinese delegation.
- Talks will take place in Geneva — first senior meeting since “Liberation Day” tariffs.
- U.S. tariffs on China now total 145%; China has retaliated with 125%.
- American businesses are delaying orders, investments due to uncertainty.
- Bessent calls current tariff levels “unsustainable” and akin to an “embargo.”
- China confirms meeting, insists it won’t “sacrifice principles” for a deal.
- U.S. consumers face rising prices for goods as recession fears grow.
- Economists caution talks will be slow and without immediate results.
Deep Look: U.S.-China Trade War Reaches Crucial Juncture as Geneva Talks Begin
As economic tensions between the world’s two largest economies deepen, top-level delegations from the United States and China will meet in Geneva this weekend for their first significant diplomatic engagement since President Donald Trump reignited the trade war with aggressive tariffs last month.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will sit down with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and his delegation, according to announcements from both governments. The meeting, confirmed by China’s Commerce Ministry on Tuesday, represents a rare point of direct contact between two nations whose economic ties have been tested by skyrocketing tariffs, faltering supply chains, and mutual accusations of bad faith.
The U.S. currently imposes 145% tariffs on Chinese imports, while China has responded with its own 125% tariffs on U.S. goods. The tit-for-tat measures began after Trump’s April 2 declaration of “Liberation Day” tariffs, aimed at forcing trade reforms and reversing the flow of manufacturing away from American shores.
Bessent, speaking on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle, emphasized the critical nature of the upcoming talks. “China has been the missing piece,” he said. “The current tariff levels are the equivalent of an embargo. We don’t want to decouple. What we want is fair trade.”
Trump previously claimed that quiet negotiations were already underway to reduce tariffs, but Beijing denied that, stating clearly that the U.S. would need to ease its pressure campaign first. China’s Ministry of Commerce issued a statement explaining its rationale for accepting the Geneva meeting, citing “global expectations,” domestic interests, and pressure from U.S. consumers and businesses.
However, Chinese officials also made it clear that Beijing will not be coerced. “China will not sacrifice its principles or global equity or justice in seeking any agreement,” a spokesperson said.
American businesses, particularly in manufacturing and retail, have already begun feeling the pinch. Orders from China are being canceled or postponed, and expansion plans shelved. The result has been higher prices for U.S. consumers on everything from food and appliances to electronics and housing materials.
Many economists say the increased tariffs function like a consumer tax, with much of the added cost passed along to buyers. Rising inflation has been a major contributor to what is now the U.S.’s worst economic mood since the COVID-19 pandemic. Recession risks are climbing.
Wendy Cutler, a former trade official and current vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute, called the Geneva meeting “a welcome development.”
“This is the first face-to-face meeting between senior U.S. and Chinese officials since Trump returned to office. It’s an important chance to begin unwinding tariffs and laying a roadmap forward. But this won’t be resolved quickly—it’s the start of a long process,” Cutler said.
In addition to the Chinese delegation, Bessent and Greer will also meet with Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter during the talks. These discussions are likely to touch on global trade stability and the role of neutral countries in facilitating future negotiations.
Both Bessent and Greer have previously interacted with Chinese officials. Greer, who spoke for over an hour with his Chinese counterpart prior to the onset of the trade war, told Fox News last month, “This isn’t about encircling China—it’s about fixing the American economy.” He emphasized increasing domestic manufacturing and raising real wages as goals behind the trade strategy.
Bessent, too, had a direct conversation with Vice Premier He Lifeng in February, laying early groundwork for the current meeting. A Treasury statement at the time described the exchange as a chance to “share views on the bilateral economic relationship.”
Despite hopes for de-escalation, expectations are being kept low. Officials on both sides acknowledge that the complex nature of the standoff—fueled by political, economic, and ideological factors—means that meaningful breakthroughs are unlikely in a single meeting.
Still, in an era where diplomacy has often given way to confrontation, this dialogue may represent the first tentative step toward restoring one of the most critical economic relationships in the world.
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