As the global economy watches with bated breath, the ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China continue to unfold. In recent days, there have been mixed signals on the progress of negotiations from both sides. However, China has come out swinging, denying any notion that active talks are underway over tariffs.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Guo Jiakun explicitly stated that “China and the U.S. are not having any consultation or negotiation on tariffs, still less reaching a deal.” This firmly rebuts U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that things were going “fine with China” and that the final tariff rate would come down “substantially” from the current 145%.
Guo’s statement is backed by Commerce Ministry spokesman He Yadong, who emphasized that any form of consultations or negotiations must be conducted on the basis of mutual respect and equality. He also underscored that claims about the progress of China-U.S. trade negotiations are groundless and lack factual basis.
Trump’s administration had earlier imposed 145% tariffs on Chinese imports, to which Beijing responded with a 125% tariff on U.S. products. The U.S. has since granted other countries a 90-day pause on tariffs in exchange for their leaders’ commitment to negotiate with the White House. However, China remains an outlier, choosing not to reciprocate this offer.
Instead, it has taken measures such as restricting exports of rare earth minerals and pursuing multiple cases against the U.S. at the World Trade Organization (WTO). Beijing is adamant that any meaningful dialogue should involve the cancellation of all tariffs currently faced by China.
The Chinese government’s stance is clear: they will not engage in a trade war without getting something tangible out of it. Commerce Ministry spokesman He Yadong emphasized, “The unilateral tariff increase measures were initiated by the United States. If the United States really wants to solve the problem, it should face up to the rational voices of the international community and all parties at home, completely cancel all unilateral tariff measures against China, and find ways to resolve differences through equal dialogue.”
In a surprising turn of events, Trump himself expressed his willingness to take a softer approach with Chinese President Xi Jinping. “We’re going to live together very happily and ideally work together,” he said, offering a conciliatory tone.
As the dance of diplomacy continues, it remains to be seen whether China’s firm stance will ultimately yield results or if the trade tensions between the two global powers will persist. The world watches with anticipation as the stakes grow higher in this high-stakes game of tariffs and negotiations.
Sourced from https://apnews.com