China and the United States are preparing to hold high-level talks this weekend in a bid to de-escalate mounting trade tensions that have disrupted global markets in recent weeks.
According to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, Beijing agreed to engage with Washington after “fully considering global expectations,” amid growing international concern over the escalating trade dispute between the world’s two largest economies.
The meeting is scheduled to take place in Switzerland from May 9 to 12. The U.S. delegation will be led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chief Trade Negotiator Jamieson Greer, while China will be represented by top economist He Lifeng.
The discussions will focus on the possible rollback of broad-based tariffs and the revision of export control lists. Both sides are expected to explore a roadmap for easing the punitive trade measures currently in place.
Tensions have intensified since President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, with the administration introducing a series of executive orders and raising tariffs. In April, U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports surged to 145 percent. In retaliation, China imposed a 125 percent tariff on select American goods.
In a statement released Tuesday and reported by Reuters, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said: “On the basis of fully considering global expectations, China’s interests, and the appeals of U.S. industry and consumers, China has decided to re-engage the U.S.”
The statement added a warning, quoting a Chinese proverb: “Listen to what is said, and watch what is done. If the U.S. says one thing but then does another, or attempts to use talks as a cover to continue coercion and blackmail, China will never agree.”
The Biden administration has justified the latest tariffs by accusing Beijing of contributing to the illegal flow of fentanyl and engaging in unfair trade practices. Officials have also criticised China for allegedly failing to uphold commitments made during the previous Trump administration.
China, for its part, has labelled the new U.S. tariffs “illegal and unreasonable.”
This weekend’s meeting marks the first formal engagement between both countries since the latest wave of trade restrictions, and it may signal the beginning of efforts to repair fractured economic ties.
