U.S. and China Wrap Up Trade Talks in Stockholm, Seek to Extend Tariff Truce
American and Chinese officials concluded two days of negotiations in Stockholm on Tuesday, aiming to ease long-standing economic tensions and avoid a deeper trade conflict between the world’s two largest economies.
Although no major breakthroughs were announced, China’s chief trade envoy, Li Chenggang, said both nations agreed to pursue an extension of the 90-day tariff truce established in mid-May. However, no details were given on the timing or duration of such an extension.
The discussions could potentially lay the groundwork for a future meeting between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping, though Trump dismissed actively seeking such talks, and Chinese representatives made no mention of a summit.
While Trump has recently secured trade deals with the EU, Japan, and others, China remains a more challenging partner due to its economic scale and dominance in critical materials like rare earths. 
Back in May, both sides stepped back from imposing triple-digit tariffs that would have essentially amounted to a trade embargo. Yet without a lasting deal, global markets and supply chains remain vulnerable to renewed disruption.
Reflecting these concerns, the International Monetary Fund raised its global growth outlook on Tuesday, but highlighted the risk of a tariff resurgence as a key threat to economic stability.
