US reaches trade deal with China, details remain undisclosed

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The United States has reached a trade agreement with China after two days of negotiations in Geneva. The White House confirmed the deal but has yet to release specific details. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer led the talks, marking the first high-level discussions since the Trump administration imposed 145 percent tariffs on Chinese imports. The agreement comes sooner than expected, given the scale of the trade war that has disrupted $600 billion in annual trade between the two nations.

The negotiations were described as productive, with officials emphasizing the speed at which both sides reached an understanding. Greer noted that the differences between the two countries “were not as large as maybe thought”, suggesting that groundwork had already been laid before the Geneva meetings. This signals a shift in strategy, with both sides eager to de-escalate tensions.

Trump hinted at a possible reduction in tariffs, stating that an 80 percent rate “seems right”. However, it remains unclear whether this figure was finalized in the agreement. The administration has promised to release full details soon, but for now, the markets are reacting to the news with cautious optimism.

China’s response has been measured. Officials have yet to confirm specifics, but reports indicate that Beijing may exempt certain U.S. goods from its 125 percent retaliatory tariffs. This move would ease trade tensions without making public concessions, a strategy that aligns with China’s broader approach to negotiations.

SOURCES:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/05/u-s-announces-china-trade-deal-in-geneva/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/05/11/trump-china-trade-deal-tariffs/83570296007/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/05/11/us-china-trump-tariff-talks-geneva/83569651007/