U.S. and Chinese officials agreed Tuesday to pursue a 90-day extension of their current tariff truce following two days of talks in Stockholm described by both sides as constructive. Whether the truce, set to expire August 12, will be extended now rests with President Trump, officials said.
“The meetings were very constructive,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. “It’s just that we haven’t given the signoff.” He added he would likely meet with Trump in Washington on Wednesday to discuss the outcome.
Bessent indicated that follow-up meetings between U.S. and Chinese negotiators were likely in the next 90 days and noted that prior discussions in Geneva and London had helped refine agreements on Chinese rare earth exports. “There was good personal interaction being built up, good mutual respect. I think we understand their agenda much better,” he said.
Chinese trade envoy Li Chenggang emphasized the shared goal of maintaining stable economic relations, stating that both countries will continue active communication to promote “the stable and healthy development” of trade ties.
The Stockholm talks also included broad economic discussions, with U.S. officials urging China to transition from an export-heavy, state-led model toward greater consumer-driven growth—an adjustment they said would benefit U.S. exporters.
