Trade talks: optimism amid ongoing negotiations

TALKS between top US and Chinese officials resumed for a second day yesterday, after US President Donald Trump voiced optimism over the negotiations aimed at de-escalating trade tensions sparked by his aggressive tariff roll out.

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In a Truth Social post following a first day of talks in Geneva at the weekend, Trump praised the “very good” discussions and deemed them “a total reset negotiated in a friendly, but constructive, manner”.

Earlier, Chinese state news agency Xinhua also described the talks in Switzerland as “an important step in promoting the resolution of the issue”.

The second day of closed-door meetings between US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng resumed shortly after 10am yesterday.

As at the weekend, the talks were taking place at the residence of the Swiss ambassador to the UN in Geneva, a discrete villa with sky-blue shutters near a large park on the left bank of Lake Geneva.