• Trade talks between the US and China are described as "a bit stalled" by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
• Both nations agreed to suspend certain tariffs for 90 days earlier this month in a temporary truce.
• Bessent suggests a call between Trump and Xi Jinping may be necessary to advance discussions.
• A federal appeals court recently ruled to temporarily maintain Trump's tariffs while cases are reviewed.
• Chinese officials have consistently urged the US to abandon its tariffs, emphasizing the negative impacts of trade wars.

Trade talks between the US and China are currently regarded as "a bit stalled," according to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who indicated that President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping may need to intervene to revitalize negotiations. Bessent expressed confidence in the strong relationship between the two leaders, suggesting that talks could resume soon, potentially including a phone call between them. "I believe that we will be having more talks with them in the next few weeks," he stated, as reported by Newsweek, Bloomberg, and BBC.

The trade negotiations had a brief intermission earlier this month when both nations announced a surprising pause on reciprocal tariffs for a period of 90 days, which followed discussions in Geneva. Under this temporary agreement, the US reduced its tariffs on Chinese imports from 145% to 30%, while China lowered its tariffs from 125% to 10%. This effort was aimed at de-escalating the ongoing trade war, while discussions for a more permanent settlement continued, as outlined by The Jakarta Post and Dawn.

Despite this truce, Bessent indicated that momentum has waned in further negotiations. "Given the magnitude of the talks, given the complexity, that this is going to require both leaders to weigh in with each other," he stated. Additionally, a recent ruling by a US federal appeals court, which temporarily reinstated Trump's tariffs after a lower court found he had overstepped his authority, adds another layer of complexity to the negotiations, according to BBC, The Jakarta Post, and Dawn.

Chinese officials have reiterated their position on tariffs, emphasizing that they believe there are "no winners in a trade war." They called on the US to reconsider its practices, urging a resolution that would allow both countries to benefit from trade without the hindrance of tariffs. Bessent conveyed optimism, stating, "I am confident that the Chinese will come to the table when President Trump makes his preferences known," as reported by Bloomberg and The Jakarta Post.