GENEVA/WASHINGTON – U.S. President Donald Trump announced “great progress” following Saturday’s trade talks with China in Switzerland, describing the meeting as a “total reset” of relations between the two global powers.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the discussions were “friendly but constructive” and focused heavily on increasing access for American businesses in China. He did not provide specific details but emphasized, “GREAT PROGRESS MADE!!!”
Top-level delegates, including U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, met Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng for nearly eight hours in Geneva. The negotiations, held at the Swiss UN ambassador’s residence, mark the first direct encounter since both nations escalated tariffs to over 100%.
Though no official statements followed the talks, discussions are expected to continue into Sunday and possibly Monday, according to sources.
The trade war, inflamed by Trump’s sweeping tariff policies since February and China’s retaliatory measures, has nearly frozen $600 billion in annual bilateral trade, disrupted global supply chains, and raised recession concerns.
Swiss officials helped broker the secretive talks, viewing the meeting itself as a diplomatic achievement. Swiss Economy Minister Guy Parmelin stated that continued dialogue could ease tensions.
China’s state media, while criticizing U.S. tariff aggression, acknowledged the Geneva talks as a “positive and necessary” step. Beijing remains firm on protecting its economic interests and seeks equal footing in negotiations.
President Trump floated the idea of adjusting his tariff strategy, suggesting 80% duties instead of the current 145% on Chinese goods. China is reportedly aiming for a 90-day tariff reprieve during the ongoing talks.
While expectations remain low due to lingering distrust, the World Trade Organization praised the dialogue and encouraged both nations to pursue peaceful solutions.