Chinese and American trade negotiators concluded their two-day meeting in Stockholm without a clear path forward to avert tariffs from skyrocketing back to ultra-high levels that formed an effective blockade on trade between the world’s two largest economies.

The Treasury head said recent trade deals announced by the US — including with the European Union and Japan — created a “lot more leverage” and promised China will not get a “special deal,” despite being America’s third largest trading partner among individual nations.

After a “constructive” round of talks ahead of an Aug. 12 deadline, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, “Nothing is agreed until we speak with President Trump.”