Top US officials to meet Chinese delegation in Switzerland amid trade tensions
WASHINGTON: Senior US officials are set to meet a high-level Chinese delegation this weekend in Switzerland in the first major talks between the two nations since President Donald Trump triggered a trade war with steep tariffs on imports.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will hold discussions with their counterparts in Geneva, marking the most senior known conversations between the two countries in months, the Trump administration announced on Tuesday. The talks come amid increasing concerns in US markets about the impact of tariffs on consumer goods prices and supply.
China, the world's largest exporter and second-biggest economy, has been hit hardest by Trump's trade war. When Trump introduced his “Liberation Day” tariffs on April 2, China responded with retaliatory tariffs, a move Trump saw as disrespectful. Since then, reciprocal tariffs have escalated, with US tariffs on China now at 145% and Chinese tariffs on US goods at 125%.
American firms have begun cancelling orders from China, delaying expansion plans, and scaling back operations as a result of the tariff conflict.
Following the announcement of the talks, Bessent told Fox News' “The Ingraham Angle” that while the US has engaged in negotiations with multiple trading partners, “China has been the missing piece.”
He added, “The current situation isn’t sustainable, especially on the Chinese side,” and described the high tariff levels as “the equivalent of an embargo. We don’t want to decouple. What we want is fair trade.”
Trump previously claimed that the US and China were negotiating ways to reduce tariffs, but Beijing denied this, insisting that Trump must first lower his tariffs.
On Tuesday, the Chinese Commerce Ministry confirmed the meeting between its vice premier and Bessent in Switzerland.
“The Chinese side carefully evaluated information from the US side and decided to engage in talks after fully considering global expectations, Chinese interests, and calls from US businesses and consumers,” a ministry spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that China would not “sacrifice its principles or global equity or justice in seeking any agreement.”
Most economists warn that the costs of tariffs will be passed on to consumers, leading to higher prices for cars, groceries, housing, and other goods. Rising prices have already begun burdening US consumers, who are experiencing the worst economic downturn since the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, economists caution that the risk of recession is increasing.
Wendy Cutler, a former US trade official and now vice-president of the Asia Society Policy Institute, said the upcoming meeting is a positive step.
“As the first face-to-face meeting between senior US and Chinese officials since Trump’s inauguration, it provides an important opportunity to begin discussions on easing tariffs, outlining a path forward, and addressing concerns,” Cutler said. “We should not expect quick victories—this will be a process that takes time.”
During their time in Switzerland, Bessent and Greer are also scheduled to meet Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter, according to statements from their respective offices.
Both Greer and Bessent had spoken with their Chinese counterparts before the start of the trade war.
Greer told Fox News Channel last month that he had engaged in a one-hour conversation with his Chinese counterpart before the tariffs began. “I thought it was constructive,” he said, adding, “This is not a plan just to encircle China. It’s a plan to fix the American economy, to increase manufacturing’s share of GDP, to raise real wages, and to focus on production rather than an economy financed by the government.”
In February, Bessent spoke with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng “to exchange views on the bilateral economic relationship,” according to a statement from the US Treasury.
By RSS/AP
