Trump Hails 'Total Reset' in China Tariff Talks as Geneva Negotiations Show Promise
Sarah Johnson
May 11, 2025
Brief
Trump announces progress in Geneva trade talks with China, hinting at a tariff reset to boost U.S. jobs and cut trade deficit.
President Donald Trump took to Truth Social late Saturday, proclaiming "great progress" in trade talks with China held in Geneva, Switzerland. The negotiations, involving U.S. officials like Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and a Chinese delegation, stretched over 10 hours, with Trump hinting at a "total reset" in the tense tariff standoff.
While no blockbuster deal emerged, the discussions tackled a slew of issues, with "much agreed to," according to Trump. The talks are set to continue Sunday, as both sides grapple with the fallout of escalating tariffs. The U.S. slapped a hefty 145% tariff on Chinese goods after an initial round announced April 2, while China retaliated with a 125% tariff on American products.
Trump, a longtime tariff advocate, argued these measures could shrink the U.S.’s staggering $1.2 trillion trade deficit from 2024 and revive American manufacturing jobs. Bessent echoed this, warning that China’s tariffs could cost them up to 10 million jobs, pressuring Beijing to ease up. "They sell five times more to us than we do to them," Bessent told reporters, underscoring the U.S.’s leverage as the deficit nation.
Trump remained optimistic, telling White House reporters Thursday that China is eager for a deal. He described the negotiations as "friendly, but constructive," with a goal of opening China’s markets to American businesses. "GREAT PROGRESS MADE!!!" he posted, signaling hope for a breakthrough.
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Editor's Comments
Trump’s calling this a 'total reset,' but it feels more like a high-stakes poker game where both sides are bluffing with tariffs. China’s got millions of jobs on the line, and the U.S. is waving its trade deficit like a red cape. Here’s a thought: maybe they’ll settle it over a friendly game of ping-pong diplomacy—Geneva edition! Wonder if Trump’s got a paddle ready or if Bessent’s just crunching numbers to psych out Beijing.
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