The United States and China are set to hold their first official trade negotiations this week aimed at reducing tensions in their ongoing tariff conflict, marking a significant diplomatic development in the strained economic relationship between the two countries.
The meeting will take place in Switzerland, a neutral venue selected by both parties. Representing the United States will be Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The Chinese delegation will be led by Vice Premier He Lifeng.
According to Bloomberg, the primary focus of the discussions will be the de-escalation of the trade dispute rather than the drafting of a comprehensive agreement. “We need to de-escalate the situation before moving forward. We do not seek to sever economic ties—we seek fair trade,” Bessent was quoted as saying.
The talks follow a sharp increase in tariffs initiated by the Trump administration earlier this year. In April, President Donald Trump imposed tariffs of 145% on Chinese imports, prompting an immediate response from Beijing, which introduced retaliatory tariffs of 125% on American goods. The measures have led to significant disruptions across key sectors, with global supply chains already under pressure.
While there have been prior indications from both Washington and Beijing of a willingness to engage in dialogue, this week’s meeting marks the first formal and publicly confirmed negotiation between the two sides since the imposition of the latest round of tariffs.
Sources close to the Trump administration have stated that the White House is considering a partial reduction in tariffs, potentially lowering them from 145% to between 50% and 65%, depending on the outcome of the talks. However, a final decision has yet to be taken, and discussions within the administration are ongoing.
Officials familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal that President Trump is reluctant to act unilaterally and is seeking reciprocal commitments from Beijing. One senior administration source noted that the President expects “concrete steps” from China in return for any easing of tariffs.
For its part, the Chinese government has confirmed it received a US request to initiate talks. A spokesperson stated that Beijing remains open to dialogue but expects Washington to demonstrate “sincerity” and a willingness to “correct erroneous practices”.
The resumption of formal negotiations follows weeks of informal contacts and behind-the-scenes communications aimed at avoiding further deterioration in bilateral trade relations.
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