Analysts have low expectations for breakthroughs, but host Switzerland hopes that the "roadmap" will appear.
China's trade envoy, his Lifefeng, met with Switzerland's U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to aim to mitigate the trade war between superpowers, a global trade war.
According to China's State News Agency, the 125% tariff on Chinese goods has prompted China's 125% tariffs to begin on Saturday at an undisclosed location in Geneva, Switzerland, according to China's State News Agency Xinhua News Agency.
A convoy of black cars and vans was seen leaving the Swiss ambassador's home in the suburbs of Coloni, according to the Associated Press News.
Due to the sensitivity of the meeting, a diplomatic source spoke with the Associated Press on anonymity, saying the two had a meeting for about two hours before a lunch scheduled before departure.
Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump announced tariffs on nearly every country in every country in the world, and now has a 90-day probation in negotiations, a slogan that U.S. President Donald Trump prompted trade disputes to effectively boycott products last month.
Experts believe China may be looking for the same 90-day exemption and a 145% reduction in tariffs - Trump recommended reducing it to 80% and said in a Truth Social Post Friday that the amount "seems to be correct."
Trump's press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Friday that the U.S. would not unilaterally reduce tariffs, adding that China also needs to make concessions.
Bessent said the meeting in Switzerland will focus on “degradation”.
"The best situation is that both parties agree to simultaneously lower the tariffs...." Sun Yun, director of China Programs at the Stimson Center in Washington, D.C., said, even adding a smaller signal of reduction.
"It can't be words," she said.
Trump demonstrated the punitive tariffs by invoking unfair trade practices and accusing Beijing of failing to curb exports of chemicals used to produce fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid.
China says it will not succumb to "imperialists" and bullies.
With high distrust rates, both sides are keen to appear weak, and economic analysts have low expectations for breakthroughs.
Trump's suggestion that the discussion was initiated by China. Beijing said the United States demanded discussions and China's policy to oppose U.S. tariffs have not changed.
Swiss Economy Minister Guy Parmelin met with both sides in Geneva on Friday and said the fact that the negotiations were happening was successful.
"If the roadmap can appear, they decide to continue the discussion, which will reduce tensions," he told reporters on Friday. He said the talks could continue until Sunday or even Monday.