US-China, Geneva talks on trade and tariffs: first face-to-face after months of tensions

He Lifeng and Scott Bessent meet in Switzerland to start economic dialogue, but Trump confirms: ‘No backtracking on 145% tariffs’

The first high-level talks between the US and China have begun in Geneva focusing on trade tensions that have erupted since the imposition of record tariffs sought by US President Donald Trump. This was reported by the Chinese news agency Xinhua, which confirmed the presence of Vice-Premier He Lifeng, a close aide of President Xi Jinping, and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

The confrontation comes after months of frost and an unprecedented tariff clash: the US imposed 145% duties on a wide range of Chinese imports, to which Beijing responded with 125% countermeasures on American goods.

Despite the attempt to reopen a channel for dialogue, the climate remains tense. Only two days ago, Trump peremptorily reiterated that he would not review the measures imposed on Beijing. When questioned in the Oval Office, he replied with a flat ‘No’ to the possibility of softening the tariffs.

However, the Geneva meeting represents a significant step towards a possible thaw, with the two superpowers officially talking to each other again on an economic level after a long period of head-to-head confrontation.

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