China Considers US Offer for Tariff Talks, Warns Against Coercion
China is currently “evaluating” an offer from the United States to engage in talks about the 145 percent tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, according to a statement from China’s Commerce Ministry on Friday. However, the ministry cautioned the US not to resort to “extortion and coercion” in these discussions.
The ongoing trade dispute between Washington and Beijing has created a tense stand-off, with both sides hesitant to make the first move in resolving a trade war that has disrupted global markets and supply chains.
The Chinese Commerce Ministry revealed that the US had reached out to China to propose discussions about the tariffs, signaling a possible de-escalation in the trade conflict. This statement came a day after a Chinese state media-linked social media account reported that Washington had shown interest in talks, and a week after Trump claimed that negotiations had already begun, a claim that Beijing denied.
The Chinese statement indicated that the US had made several attempts to initiate communication, expressing a desire for dialogue. However, Beijing made it clear that it was “evaluating” the offer, while stressing that the use of talks as a means of coercion would not be acceptable.
“Any attempt to use negotiations as a cover for coercion or extortion will not succeed,” the statement said, urging the US to take corrective actions and end its unilateral tariffs. China also emphasized that Washington needed to show genuine sincerity in any potential negotiations.
Despite these calls for dialogue, China has continued to assert that it is not actively seeking to negotiate an end to the tariffs, instead waiting for the US to take the first step.
The tariffs imposed by Trump come at a difficult time for China, which is grappling with deflation due to weak economic growth and an ongoing property crisis.
In response to the tariffs, Beijing has criticized them as unfair bullying measures that will not stop China’s rise as a global economic power. At the same time, China has worked behind the scenes to create a list of US products that will be exempt from retaliatory tariffs, such as certain pharmaceuticals, microchips, and jet engines.
On the US side, officials like Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett have expressed hope that the trade tensions can be eased. Bessent stated in an interview with Fox Business Network that he was confident China would seek a deal and emphasized that the process would involve de-escalating the situation before moving on to broader negotiations.
President Trump also expressed optimism, stating that he believed there was a “very good chance” for an agreement with China. This came shortly after Chinese President Xi Jinping urged officials to adapt to changes in the global landscape, without directly referring to the United States.
