NewsTrade talks between the US and China aim to ease tensions

Trade talks between the US and China aim to ease tensions

On May 10 and 11 in Switzerland, trade talks are scheduled between the USA and China. The meetings will be attended by China's Vice Premier He Lifeng, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, among others.

Vice Premier of China He Lifeng will talk with Scott Bessent.
Vice Premier of China He Lifeng will talk with Scott Bessent.
Images source: © bloomberg via getty images | David Paul Morris
Piotr Bera

According to "Parkiet," the aim of the bilateral talks is to ease trade tensions rather than reaching a new agreement between the countries.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced that the agreement to hold talks was at the request of the Americans. "If the US wishes to resolve issues through negotiation, it must acknowledge the severe negative impacts its unilateral tariff measures have had on itself and the world," the Chinese authorities stated in an official communiqué.

Donald Trump's trade war

Let us recall that U.S. tariffs on imports from China currently stand at 145%, and China's retaliatory tariffs are at 125%. However, both countries have made exceptions to mitigate the impact on their economies. The U.S. has exempted smartphones from tariffs, and China has exempted selected pharmaceuticals and microchips. The World Trade Organization estimates that Chinese exports to the USA could fall by 77% if the tariffs remain in effect.

As early as the first half of April, Beijing stated its readiness to negotiate with the United States on tariffs, emphasizing that such dialogue must be conducted based on principles of mutual respect and equality.

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