Geneva: The United States and China wrapped on the first day of high stakes trade negotiations in Geneva on Saturday, their first face to face-meeting since President Donald Trump imposed a fresh wave of steep tariffs on Chinese imports.

The closed door discussions held in the Swiss ambassador’s residence come as both sides signalize a cautious will to step down one of the most serious trade understanding in recent years.

American Finance Ministry Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met Chinese vice -premiere He Lifeng on Saturday at the Swiss ambassador residence. The discreet villa at Lake Geneva was the setting for what Chinese state media described as an “important step” towards ease tension.

The lectures continue on Sunday, according to a source close to the discussions.

Trump’s tariffs now make up 145% on Chinese imports, with some products facing a staggering 245% duty. Beijing hit back with 125% tariffs on US goods and pushed both countries to the brim of an almost total trade freezing.

On Friday, Trump suggested that he possibly made tariffs, announcing online that a “80% duty in China seems right!” But his press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, later said that any reduction would depend on Chinese concessions. The message was clear: It takes two to tango.

Trade Secretary Howard Lutnick said Trump was open for shell, but the tariffs would not come down for free. “The president wants to prepare it with China,” he said. “He wants to step down the situation.”

‘The relationship is not good’

“The relationship is not good,” said Bill Reinsch of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “We have trade -protected tariffs that are going in both directions.”

Analysts still saw the meeting as a positive signal.

Xu bin, a professor at China Europe International Business School, said the two sides spoke at all were significant. “China is the only country that has been beaten back to Trump’s tariffs,” he said.

Bessent made it clear that the negotiations would focus on “de-shell”, not a sweeping trade agreement.

China, in the meantime, wants the United States to lift customs duties before they make big features. A comment in China’s News Agency Xinhua warned that “trade war and tariffs give no winners” – a reminder that both sides are softened.

UK Deal offers glitter of HOPE

Trump entered into a separate agreement with Britain two days before the Geneva meeting – his first trade pact since the launch of global tariffs. The five-page agreement offers sector-specific relief of British steel, aluminum and cars in return for greater UK access for us beef and farm goods.

A 10% baseline tarif remains on most British imports, although Trump suggested it could be waived “if anyone did something unusual for us”.

Meanwhile, China’s latest export figures rose unexpectedly, helped by a shift in trade to Southeast Asia – a possible sign of Beijing is to find ways around American duties.

It’s early days, but Geneva Spoken can mark the beginning of a thaw. Currently, both sides hold their cards close to the chest – and hope not to shoot themselves in the foot.