Top Chinese and US trade negotiators continue Geneva trade talks into evening

On May 10, 2025, top Chinese and U.S. trade negotiators extended their discussions into the evening in Geneva, Switzerland, aiming to de-escalate a trade war marked by high tariffs—145% on Chinese imports to the U.S. and 125% on U.S. goods to China. The U.S. delegation, led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. The talks, held at a discreet lakeside venue, focused on tariff reductions, export controls, and trade imbalances, though expectations for a major breakthrough remained low due to mutual distrust. Both sides signaled a desire to ease economic tensions, with the U.S. considering lowering tariffs to around 80% and China evaluating concessions like stricter fentanyl controls. The World Trade Organization called the talks a “constructive step.”