In a bid to address escalating tensions, President Donald Trump has praised the ongoing trade talks between the U.S. and China, calling them a “total reset” in relations. These discussions, which began on Saturday in Geneva at the Swiss Ambassador’s residence, mark the first face-to-face talks between senior officials from both countries since Trump’s controversial imposition of high tariffs on Chinese imports earlier this year.

Trump expressed his satisfaction with the negotiations in a post on Truth Social, referring to them as “very good” and emphasizing the need for China to open its markets to U.S. businesses. He also highlighted that while progress had been made, no immediate decisions on tariff reductions would be made. Although Trump had previously suggested a reduction in tariffs, his press secretary clarified that any such move would require reciprocal actions from China.

The talks, led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, are focused on de-escalating the situation rather than forming a large-scale trade agreement. Both sides have kept expectations low, with Bessent stressing the focus on “de-escalation” and China insisting that the U.S. must ease tariffs first.

The trade conflict has resulted in U.S. tariffs as high as 245% on Chinese goods, while China has retaliated with tariffs of up to 125% on American exports, creating a near-embargo situation. Despite the ongoing tensions, experts remain doubtful that significant changes will emerge from the talks. Citigroup’s Nathan Sheets described the tariffs as a “lose-lose” situation, and Gary Hufbauer from the Peterson Institute cautioned that even with tariff reductions, returning to normal trade relations could still be far from achievable.

While there is a cautious sense of optimism about the talks, particularly in terms of their potential impact on global business and financial markets, experts warn that a full resolution may still be out of reach.

In addition to the U.S.-China talks, the Trump administration recently concluded a trade agreement with the United Kingdom, offering some tariff relief while maintaining a 10% levy on British goods. This indicates the U.S.’s strategy of negotiating targeted deals while maintaining protectionist measures.

As the talks continue, the world is closely monitoring whether they will lead to a resolution of the trade dispute or if the economic tension between the U.S. and China will persist.