China’s top trade official said the two sides had “constructive” and “candid” discussions and agreed to keep the tariffs at current levels — the United States taxing Chinese goods at 30 percent and China collecting 10 percent on US products.

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.

China's top leaders have pledged to help companies slammed by higher U.S. tariffs but held back on major moves after trade talks with the U.S. this week left businesses in limbo.