Duties, Second Day of US-China Talks. Commerce Secretary Lutnick: “Optimistic”

MILAN – Second round of talks in Geneva between the delegations of the United States and China to try to find a truce on the trade front. And after the words of the American president, Donald Trump, who in the Italian night spoke on the social Truth of "great progress" and the possibility of a "total reset" after the escalation with tariffs reaching 145% towards Beijing (which responds with 125%), other positive signals are coming from the American side. It is in particular the US Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, who says he is "optimistic" about the outcome of the talks.

"We are optimistic that things will work out," the US secretary said in an interview with CNN . Lutnick is not part of the team representing the United States: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are there, while China has sent Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng .

"It's really important for the United States. It's important for China," Lutnick stressed, assuring that the American delegation is "working hard" to reach an agreement, without providing any details on the content of the discussions.

Two officials, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, confirmed that the talks had resumed this morning. The Chinese side, through the official Xinhua news agency, acknowledged that the opening of the table was an “important step” but also reiterated its hard line, assuring that China “will firmly reject any proposal that compromises fundamental principles or undermines the broader cause of global equity .”