US, China plan trade talks this week

Two nations' officials to meet in Geneva

- ANA SWANSON

Top officials from the Trump administration will meet with their Chinese counterparts in Switzerland this week, the first formal meeting about trade between the United States and China since President Donald Trump raised tariffs on Chinese imports to triple-digit levels last month.

Scott Bessent, the Treasury secretary, and Jamieson Greer, the United States trade representative, plan to meet with Chinese officials during a trip to Geneva, where they will discuss trade and economic matters, according to separate announcements from the office of the trade representative and the Treasury Department.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that He Lifeng, the vice premier for economic policy, would visit Switzerland Friday to Monday to hold talks with Mr Bessent. Mr Bessent said on Fox News that the talks would be held on Saturday and Sunday.

The meeting could help to defuse an economically damaging trade standoff that has persisted between the world's largest economies for a month. In early April, Trump escalated tariffs on Chinese exports to a minimum of 145%, to punish Beijing for retaliating against his earlier levies.