U.S. and Chinese officials agreed to seek an extension of their 90-day tariff truce on Tuesday, following two days of what both sides described as constructive talks in Stockholm aimed at defusing an escalating trade war between the world's two biggest economies that threatens global growth.

The U.S.-Chinese cease-fire left exporters with crippling tariffs, worsening a slowdown for light-industry factories caused by China’s shift to advanced manufacturing.