China Conditionally Open to Trade Talks With U.S.
China signaled its willingness to resume trade talks with U.S.—but emphasized that any progress would depend on Washington demonstrating “good faith” through tangible actions. In particular, Beijing highlighted the removal of existing tariffs on Chinese imports as a key step toward rebuilding trust and fostering a constructive dialogue between the two economic powers.
Ministry of Commerce Sets Firm Expectations
A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce stated that Beijing is “carefully evaluating” recent signals from American officials, including public comments expressing interest in revisiting tariff policies. However, China insists that goodwill must be demonstrated in practice, not just rhetoric.
“If confrontation is what you seek, we are prepared to endure; if dialogue is your intent, our doors remain open,” said the spokesperson. “But the U.S. must correct its course and rescind unilateral tariffs.”
Retaliatory Measures and a Stalemate
In response to former President Trump’s sweeping tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese exports, Beijing imposed countertariffs of up to 125% on American goods. While China has previously shown openness to negotiation, it consistently rejects high-pressure tactics as counterproductive.
Finance Minister Warns of Recession Risk if Trade Dispute with U.S. Persists
Quebec’s Finance Minister Éric Girard warned that Canada could face an economic slowdown in the second quarter of the year…
Nationalism Rises Amid Trade Strain
Amid the prolonged trade standoff, the Chinese Communist Party has intensified nationalist messaging, portraying the United States as the primary source of China’s economic obstacles and rallying domestic support for a long-term confrontation.
U.S. Firm on Concessions
President Trump has stated he will not remove tariffs without significant concessions from China, including broader market access for American companies. “We need access to operate in China—to sell our products, our merchandise,” Trump told Time magazine.
Xi-Trump Communication Disputed
Trump recently claimed that President Xi Jinping had reached out to him directly. This was quickly denied by China’s Foreign Ministry, which stated that no recent communication had taken place and no tariff discussions were ongoing.
China Warns Against Economic Intimidation
The Ministry’s remarks echo a video shared by China’s Foreign Ministry earlier this week, which declared China would “never bow down” to U.S. pressure. The video urged the global community to resist American economic coercion, stating: “When the world stands united, the U.S. is merely a small, isolated vessel.”
Future Talks Uncertain
No timeline has been given for a potential decision from Beijing on restarting negotiations. While Trump has hinted at future tariff reductions, he has tied such steps to Chinese concessions. China, meanwhile, remains skeptical of the U.S.’s intentions.
“Words without matching actions—or negotiations driven by coercion—will not succeed with China,” concluded the Commerce Ministry.
