Trade discussions between the United States and China have reached an impasse, according to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. This development comes less than three weeks after both nations agreed to a temporary truce, which included reducing reciprocal tariffs.
Bessent stated that the complexity of the negotiations requires direct involvement from both President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping. He emphasized that while talks have lost momentum, they are ongoing, and a future call between the two leaders is anticipated.
Earlier this month, the US and China agreed to lower tariffs on each other’s imports, with the US reducing tariffs from 145% to 30% and China decreasing its tariffs from 125% to 10%. Despite this progress, a recent court ruling challenged President Trump’s authority to impose certain tariffs, adding uncertainty to the trade landscape.
Bessent remains optimistic, expressing confidence that further discussions will resume and lead to a more comprehensive agreement.
Source:
BBC News, May 30, 2025. Read more
