US-China trade talks begin in Geneva. But will it be handshakes or walkouts in the end?

As China and the United States engage in formal talks for the first time since the resurgence of their trade war, analysts who have closely followed developments in the world’s two biggest economies have made a wide range of predictions as to the outcome – with almost everything seeming to be on the table.

Vice-Premier He Lifeng, Beijing’s top economic official, is leading the Chinese delegation at the talks with his American counterpart, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, which began in Geneva, Switzerland on Saturday morning local time, according to China’s state news agency Xinhua.

It is the first face-to-face economic dialogue between the rival powers since the escalation of their trade war earlier this year, with tariffs on imports crossing 100 per cent on either side.

Ahead of the talks, China once again cast itself as the reliable and responsible partner to the multilateral trade system, while reaffirming its unwavering commitment to its own development.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has proposed reducing tariffs on Chinese goods to 80 per cent and urged Beijing to take further steps to open its markets to American products.

Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily noted in an editorial on Saturday that Beijing’s decision to engage in dialogue with Washington was driven by its responsibility as a global power and commitment to safeguarding international economic stability.

South China Morning Post