‘Great Progress Made’: Trump Hails ‘Total Reset’ After Meeting With China Over Tariffs In Switzerland
US President Donald Trump on Sunday hailed what he described as a “total reset” in US-China relations following a high-level meeting over tariffs in Switzerland.
Taking to his platform Truth Social, Trump said the talks were “friendly, but constructive,” and emphasized that the objective was to reopen China to American businesses. “Great progress made!” he wrote, signalling optimism about a potential thaw between the two economic powers.
The optimism expressed by Trump came as sensitive high-level talks between US and Chinese delegations continued behind closed doors in Geneva. The negotiations, centered on tariffs that threaten to destabilize global trade, stretched over 10 hours on Saturday and are set to resume Sunday, according to a US official, reported Associated Press.
The renewed negotiations follow Trump’s recent tariff hike that raised duties on Chinese imports to a staggering 145%, with Beijing responding by slapping a 125% levy on American goods.
These elevated tariffs have effectively choked trade between the world’s two largest economies, which last year stood at over $660 billion, and have sent shockwaves through global markets.
Trump, meanwhile, continued to frame tariffs as a strategic economic weapon. On Friday, he hinted at the possibility of easing them, writing on Truth Social: “80 per cent Tariff seems right! Up to Scott.?” Still, Trump has remained firm in using tariffs as leverage, citing concerns over fentanyl inflows and long-standing disputes over China’s alleged intellectual property theft and unfair trade practices.
The standoff dates back to Trump’s first term, when the US accused China of forcing foreign firms to hand over trade secrets, heavily subsidizing its tech sector, and engaging in economic espionage. A Phase One deal reached in January 2020 stalled further escalation but left core issues unresolved—issues now back at the center of a renewed and high-stakes diplomatic effort.