The United States and China will keep their current trade ceasefire in place for another two months, pushing back a deadline that had been set for Nov. 10, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday. The extension gives both sides more time to examine whether a broader trade arrangement can be reached.
The two-month extension is shorter than other timelines that had been under discussion. The New York Times reported Monday that Washington had proposed renewing the trade agreement for six months before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned U.S. visit from Sept. 23 to 25. China was reported to be seeking a longer extension.
Earlier this week, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told Bloomberg that a three- to six-month renewal was among the options Washington could accept. His remarks pointed to continuing differences over the length of any extension to the tariff pause.
The latest round of discussions lasted about 90 minutes, according to the Treasury Department. It followed roughly 12 hours of talks on Sunday, when Chinese officials raised the possibility of a wider agreement with Washington, Bessent said earlier, without outlining what such a pact might include.
Bessent told Fox News it was not yet certain whether negotiators could finalize an agreement by Jan. 10. He also said the United States wants China to more fully carry out obligations already made under the existing arrangement over the coming months.
The next key issue is whether the additional time leads to a broader settlement, which Bessent said remains uncertain.
