US trade representative: Talks with China ‘going in the right direction’

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said talks with China are “going in the right direction” as negotiators in Washington and Beijing try to break an impasse on tariffs.

“Obviously, we’ve had a lot of tensions over the years. We’ve had tensions now. But the fact that we are regularly meeting with them to address these issues, I think that gives us a good footing for these negotiations,” Greer said during a Monday appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”

“Now, whether there’ll be a deal or not, I can’t say. Whether there’s room for an extension, I can’t say at this point,” Greer added. “But the conversations are constructive, and they’re going in the right direction.”

Tariffs on Chinese imports stand at 30 percent while China has leveled a 10-percent levy on goods from the U.S. Officials from both nations are negotiating in Stockholm as the end of a 90-day truce on even higher duties approaches on Aug. 12.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met on Monday at the Swedish prime minister’s office in an effort to hammer out an agreement between the world’s two largest economies. 

On Monday, President Trump said he was not seeking a “summit” with China’s leader, but would be open to traveling to China if invited.

“The Fake News is reporting that I am SEEKING a ‘Summit’ with President Xi of China. This is not correct, I am not SEEKING anything! I may go to China, but it would only be at the invitation of President Xi, which has been extended,” the president wrote in a Truth Social post. “Otherwise, no interest! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

The White House recently scored structured trade deals with the European Union, Japan and the United Kingdom following Trump’s announcement of “Liberation Day” tariffs.