China evaluates US offer to negotiate tariffs – DW – 05/02/2025

Friday 02nd May 2025 04:45 AM

The Chinese government said Friday (02.05.2025) that it is “evaluating” the possibility of establishing commercial negotiations with the United States, in what is the first statement of this type since the US president, Donald Trump, raised the tariffs to imports of the Asian giant.

“Recently, the American part has transmitted several times, through the relevant channels, its desire to initiate conversations with the Chinese part. Currently, China is evaluating this situation,” said the Chinese Ministry of Commerce in a statement.

“China’s position has always been consistent: if we have to fight, we will fight until the end; if we have to talk, the door is open,” added the official text.

Mutual trust at stake

The Commerce portfolio also stressed that, in the face of a possible dialogue or negotiation, the US should “correct its erroneous unilateral tariff measures”, and stressed that not doing so “will demonstrate a complete lack of sincerity and will damage mutual confidence between both parties.”

“To say one thing and do another, or even try to use negotiations as a pretext to exercise coercion and blackmail, it will not work with China,” said the statement.

These statements occur just two days after Trump affirmed that China is being “hard” by the tariffs imposed.

“At some point I hope we reach an agreement with China. We are talking,” said the Republican president, who insists for weeks that the United States maintains direct conversations with China to resolve the tariff issue.

Trump

Trump has repeated on several occasions that the Chinese authorities had contacted to establish trade negotiations. On Wednesday, he said there were “very good chances” of reaching an agreement.

But Beijing has vehemently denied that there are ongoing conversations and has urged Washington to dialogue “just, respectful and reciprocal.”

Since Trump climbed the commercial war in early April, the United States has imposed 145 % tariffs on Chinese products, and the Asian giant has responded with levies up to 125 % for US imports.

JC (EFE, AFP)