Senior US and Chinese officials ended the first day of trade talks in Geneva on Saturday. The two-day meeting is the first direct negotiation since President Trump imposed sweeping new tariffs on China.US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. China’s state media called the session an important step.

Talks are expected to resume on Sunday in the Swiss city.The talks aim to settle a tariff war. US tariffs on China now total 145 percent, with some duties reaching 245 percent. China has answered with 125 percent levies on US goods.On Friday, Trump suggested he might lower the tariffs, writing on social media that an 80 percent tariff on China seemed right.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the president would like to de-escalate the situation.The dispute has shaken markets and supply chains for months. Business groups say both sides face pressure to show progress. A second day of talks could decide whether the world’s two largest economies move toward a deal.