U.S. President Hails China Talks in Geneva

Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump hailed talks with China in Switzerland on Saturday, 10 May 2025, saying the two sides had negotiated "a total reset ... in a friendly, but constructive, manner."

"A very good meeting today with China, in Switzerland. Many things discussed, much agreed to," President Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.

He added: "We want to see, for the good of both China and the U.S., an opening up of China to American business. GREAT PROGRESS MADE!!!" He did not elaborate on the progress.

Earlier, top U.S. and Chinese officials wrapped up the first day of talks in Geneva, Switzerland, aimed at defusing a trade war that threatens to hammer the global economy and planned to resume negotiations on Sunday, Reuters quoted a source close to the discussions.

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met for about eight hours with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in their first face-to-face meeting since the world's two largest economies heaped tariffs well above 100% on each other's goods.

Reuters also reported that Bessent, Greer and He were meeting in Geneva after weeks of growing tensions prompted by Trump's tariff blitz starting in February and retaliation from Beijing that has brought nearly $600 billion in annual bilateral trade to a virtual standstill.

Adding that Washington is seeking to reduce its $295 billion goods trade deficit with Beijing and persuade China to renounce what the United States says is a mercantilist economic model and contribute more to global consumption, a shift that would require politically sensitive domestic reforms. Beijing has pushed back against what it sees as external interference. It wants Washington to lower tariffs, clarify what it wants China to buy more of, and treat it as an equal on the world stage.

Furthermore, Reuters quoted China's official Xinhua News Agency, which said in a commentary on Saturday that the United States' "reckless abuse of tariffs" had destabilised the global economic order, but added that the negotiations represented "a positive and necessary step to resolve disagreements and avert further escalation."

"Whether the road ahead involves negotiation or confrontation, one thing is clear: China's determination to safeguard its development interests is unshakable, and its stance on maintaining the global economic and trade order remains unwavering," Xinhua said.

Citing unfair trade practices and accusing Beijing of failing to stop the sale of chemicals used to make the deadly synthetic drug fentanyl, the U.S. President has raised duties on Chinese imports to 145% since taking office in January.

China vowed it will not submit to "imperialists" or bullies and responded with a 125% retaliation tariff.



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