U.S. and Chinese officials wrapped up two days of talks in Stockholm on 29 July without securing an extension to their 90-day tariff truce, but agreed to keep negotiating before the pause expires on 12 August. The discussions were described as “constructive” by both sides and covered tariff levels, rare-earth supplies and broader economic issues. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the quality of any agreement mattered more than meeting the deadline and added that he will brief President Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday. “Nothing is agreed until we speak with President Trump,” Bessent told reporters, noting that the White House could authorise another 90-day suspension. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer echoed that the final decision rests with the president. China’s lead negotiator, Vice Commerce Minister Li Chenggang, said Beijing and Washington “will continue to push for the continued extension” of the reciprocal tariff pause and maintain existing Chinese countermeasures. He called the talks frank and wide-ranging, underscoring the importance of a stable trade relationship between the world’s two largest economies. Failure to prolong the truce would see U.S. duties on Chinese goods rebound to as high as 145% and trigger a corresponding rise in Beijing’s retaliatory tariffs, U.S. officials warned. Greer added that Section 232 probes were discussed and that any related tariffs would be applied on a global basis, while Bessent signalled that another round of negotiations is likely in about 90 days regardless of the outcome this month.