US-China trade talks end in Stockholm, Trump holds final decision

US and Chinese officials agreed to seek an extension of their 90-day tariff truce on Tuesday, following two days of talks in Stockholm.

The talks aimed at defusing an escalating trade war between the world's two biggest economies that threatens global growth.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant told reporters that it was up to President Donald Trump to decide whether to extend a trade truce that expires on August 12.

"The meetings were very constructive," Bessent said after the meetings wrapped up. "It's just that we haven't given the signoff."

China's top trade negotiator Li Chenggang said both sides fully recognized the importance of maintaining a stable and sound economic and trade relationship.

"The Chinese and U.S. economic and trade teams will maintain active communication, exchange views on economic and trade issues in a timely manner, and continue to promote the stable and healthy development of bilateral economic and trade relations," said Li.

Among broader economic issues, Washington complains that China's state-led, export-driven model is flooding world markets with cheap goods, while Beijing says US national security export controls on tech goods seek to stunt Chinese growth.

Previous US-China trade talks in Geneva and London in May and June focused on bringing US and Chinese retaliatory tariffs down.