Tariff talks begin between US, Chinese officials in Geneva as world looks for signs of hope

THE US Treasury Secretary and America's top trade negotiator began talks with high-ranking Chinese officials in Switzerland 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.

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China's Xinhua News Agency says 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 leaving the home of the Swiss Ambassador to the United Nations in the wealthy Swiss 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.