The Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has welcomed the upcoming talks between US and Chinese officials in Geneva as a hopeful development in efforts to de-escalate their protracted trade conflict. Describing the talks as "a positive and constructive step toward de-escalation," her spokesperson noted the critical role of sustained dialogue in promoting global economic stability.

"Sustained dialogue between the world's two largest economies is critical to easing trade tensions, preventing fragmentation along geopolitical lines and safeguarding global growth," the spokesperson said on Friday.

The Geneva meetings, set to take place from May 9 to 12, mark the first formal engagement between US and Chinese trade delegations since tensions sharply escalated under President Donald Trump's administration. The United States has levied tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese imports, prompting retaliatory measures from Beijing, including tariffs reaching 125% on US goods.

Despite both sides agreeing to the talks, conflicting narratives have emerged over who initiated the dialogue. Chinese officials maintain that Washington reached out multiple times to arrange the discussions, while President Trump has insisted that Beijing sought the meeting out of a desire to cut a deal. In a sign of discord within the US administration, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently stated that the US had not formally entered negotiations with China as of early May, a statement that appears to contradict the president's claims.

Read more: Bessent contradicts Trump as China trade talks remain absent

This inconsistency has arguably weakened the US position and allowed China to project itself as the more composed and principled actor in the negotiations. Chinese authorities have reiterated that any progress must be based on mutual respect and equality. Meanwhile, the US is reportedly considering reducing tariffs on Chinese goods, signaling a possible willingness to compromise.

Okonjo-Iweala has previously cautioned that unchecked trade hostilities between the two powers could slash global GDP by as much as 7% and reduce bilateral trade flows by up to 80%. Her recent remarks reiterate the WTO's longstanding concerns about economic fragmentation driven by geopolitical rivalries.

While the Geneva talks remain fraught with challenges, the WTO hopes this renewed engagement will serve as a platform for more stable cooperation going forward and help insulate global markets from further disruption.

Read more: China’s exports to US fall 17.6% March to April amid trade war