US, China trade talks end on inconclusive note

Members of Chinese and US delegations left a Geneva lakeside venue late on Saturday afternoon after holding a day of trade talks, according to Reuters reporters at the scene. It was unclear if the discussions would continue.

- 

Earlier, the US Treasury Secretary and America’s top trade negotiator began talks with high-ranking Chinese officials in Switzerland on Saturday aiming to de-escalate a dispute that threatens to cut off trade between the world's two biggest economies and damage the global economy.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer have begun meetings in Geneva with a Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier He Lifeng.

Diplomats from both sides also confirmed that the talks have begun but spoke anonymously and the exact location of the talks wasn't made public. However, a motorcade of black cars and vans was seen coming and going from the home of the Swiss ambassadorto the United Nations delegation in the wealthy city, and a diplomatic source, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the meeting, said the sides met for about two hours before departing for a previously arranged luncheon.

Prospects for a major breakthrough appeardim. But there is hope that the two countries will scale back the massive taxes-tariffs-they've slapped on each other's goods, a move that would relieve world financial markets and companies on both sides of the Pacific Ocean that depend on U.S.-China trade.