Beijing: Beijing has signaled a potential willingness to engage in trade negotiations with the United States, provided the Trump administration demonstrates genuine intent. This comes as the first notable shift in China’s posture amid the ongoing US-China trade war, which has seen a series of retaliatory tariff measures from both sides.
On Friday, China’s Ministry of Commerce acknowledged that Washington has repeatedly expressed interest in resuming talks following President Donald Trump’s decision to increase tariffs last month. The ministry stated it was taking these developments into account and evaluating the possibility of renewed dialogue.
“The US has recently sent messages to China through relevant parties, hoping to start talks with China,” a ministry spokesperson was quoted by Bloomberg. “China is currently evaluating this,” the ministry added.
China reiterated that the trade conflict was initiated by the United States. In its official statement, the Chinese government emphasized that any genuine move towards negotiations must begin with the US correcting its policies and lifting unilaterally imposed tariffs.
“In any potential dialogue or talks, if the United States does not rectify its erroneous unilateral tariff measures, it would demonstrate a complete lack of sincerity and further undermine mutual trust,” the spokesperson said.
Mounting Tariff Pressure
China’s softened rhetoric comes at a time when US-imposed tariffs are beginning to take a visible toll. Reports suggest that Chinese goods valued under USD 800 and delivered via postal networks are now subject to duties as high as 90% or a flat USD 75 per item. This threshold is set to rise to USD 150 per item from June 1, as per the South China Morning Post.
These measures have already started to disrupt trade flows, with multiple Chinese vessels reportedly reversing course en route to US ports.
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Current Landscape of the Trade War
While President Trump has delayed the implementation of reciprocal tariffs on other major economies such as India and the European Union, China remains the sole nation actively engaged in tit-for-tat tariff escalations. The United States is China’s third-largest export destination, amplifying the significance of the ongoing standoff.
According to White House figures, the Trump administration initially levied 145% tariffs on Chinese exports, which were later increased to 245%. In retaliation, Beijing imposed 125% tariffs on American goods.
Despite Trump’s assertion that discussions were ongoing and that he had spoken directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping, these claims were categorically denied by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
