Top economic officials from China and the United States began talks in Geneva on Saturday, May 10, marking the first high-level negotiations between the two countries since the imposition of sweeping tariffs under US President Donald Trump, AFP reported, citing Chinese state media.According to state broadcaster CCTV, “On the morning of the 10th local time, the China-US high-level economic and trade talks began in Geneva, Switzerland.”
The meeting in Geneva follows an announcement earlier this week that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer would travel to Switzerland for discussions with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.
Follow live updates on the latest developments in the India–Pakistan conflictThe high-level talks come amid efforts to de-escalate tensions that began when Trump imposed tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese imports, which Beijing countered with retaliatory levies of 125%.
The meeting in Geneva follows an announcement earlier this week that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer would travel to Switzerland for discussions with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.
Follow live updates on the latest developments in the India–Pakistan conflictThe high-level talks come amid efforts to de-escalate tensions that began when Trump imposed tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese imports, which Beijing countered with retaliatory levies of 125%.
In a televised interview ahead of the talks, Bessent described the current tariff structure as “unsustainable” and “the equivalent of a trade embargo.” He emphasised that while a broad trade agreement is not on the table, the immediate priority is to “de-escalate before we move forward.”
Meanwhile, President Trump on May 9 said that a tariff rate of 80% on Chinese goods ‘seems right’.
