TMTPOST -- U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday   saw   an extension   of an August 12 deadline for higher tariffs   could be one of results   of   the upcoming   new   meeting   betwen    the Trump   administration and   China.

Credit：Xinhua News Agency

Bessent   in an interview   with   Fox   Business   on Tuesday said he and other U.S.   officials will meet with their   Chinese counterparts   next   Monday and   Tuesday. "We ’ ll be working out what is likely an extension" during talks in   Stockholm,   said Bessent. He also   expressed upbeat on   the trade   with China. "I think trade is in a very good place with China,"   said the   Treasury chief.  

Besides   the possible tariff deadline extension, Bessent   signaled   the talks   may help reach sort of agreements   such as getting China   to slow the "glut of manufacturing that they ’ re doing and concentrate on building a consumer economy."  

Bessent   on Tuesday said   U.S. and   Chinese   officials during the new   talks   could discuss   China ’ s   purchase of   sanctioned   Russian   oil and   Iranian   oil.   He repeated the issue   on Wedneday, stating   Washington wants   to discuss   China ’ s   buying oil from Russia   and Iran, two countries   whose energy exports   have   been   subject   to   U.S. sanctions.   He   added   that "what they ’ re doing   to aid   Russia"   in   its invasion   of Ukraine is also a topic that   Washington   wants   to discuss.         

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson later Tuesday   confirmed   his   country would host the new round of U.S.-China talks.   "It is positive that both countries wish to meet in Sweden to seek mutual understanding," Kristersson said on X.   He   noted   the talks   are not important for   the   U.S.-China   relationship, but also   "have significant importance for global trade and the economy."

Beijing and Washington had finalized implementation details for a consensus on trade reached by Chinese leader Xi Jinping   and U.S. President Donald   Trump,   a   spokesperson for China's embassy in Washington said   following Bessent ’ s remarks.   The spokesperson added "please stay tune for further   developments", without   elaborating.

Commenting on Bessent ’ s   remark   about the next rould talks   with China could include a discussion of China ’ s purchases   of   Russian and Iranian   oil, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo   Jiakunsaid Beijing   hopes the U.S. will work   with   it   to implement the important common understandings reached by the two presidents during the phone call.   China also hopes the   U.S.   will work   together to give play to the role of the economic and trade consultation mechanism, build up consensus, reduce misunderstanding, and step up cooperation through communication and dialogue, and promote the steady, sound, and sustainable development of bilateral relations, said Guo.

Bessent two weeks ago saw meeting with Chinese officials in the coming weeks. He said on July 7   that he expected to meet with Chinese officials over "the next couple weeks"   to discuss trade and   other   issues on.  

Bessent touted   the high-level   trade   talks   in   mid-May in   Geneva and from   June   9 to 10 in London   that   he   joined in.   "We had good meetings in Geneva and London," Bessent told CNBC. "We both approached it with great respect, the two largest economies, and I think there are things   for us to do together if the Chinese want to do it, so we will discuss whether we are able to move beyond trade into other areas."

While   Bessent didn ’ t   identify the Chinese counterparts by name that he   will   talk with in the   near term, the state-backed newspaper   the Global Times   on July 8 cited   Chinese experts that his remarks   underscored   the importance of the economic and trade relationship between China and the U.S., and indicated   a potential shift in the Washington's approach to trade negotiations with China.  

Following the London talks, both China and the U.S. began fulfilling their commitments and implementing the consensus, easing pressure on bilateral relations and laying a foundation for more stable development, but that does not mean that the two sides have entered into a state of active communication or cooperation, according to the Global Times. It noted that Bessent's announcement of further consultations suggested that these talks have been coordinated with China. It said that Chinese experts expect that the next round of talks could cover a broader range of issues beyond trade, including investment, currency, high-technology exports, and energy procurement.