China declared on Thursday that Beijing is not currently engaged in tariff discussions with the U.S., despite recent signals from the White House suggesting a possible easing of tensions.
Ministry of Commerce Spokesperson He Yadong stated that there’s absolutely no current dialogue on economic and trade matters between the two nations, dismissing any reports of progress in bilateral talks. He suggested that the U.S. could resolve existing issues by removing its unilateral measures against China.
Prior to this, U.S. President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have hinted at potential relaxation in tensions with Beijing. This follows the U.S. imposing a 145% tariff on Chinese goods earlier this month, which led China to retaliate with its duties and restrictions on critical minerals exports to the U.S.
China’s stance was further reinforced by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun, who asserted that there are no ongoing negotiations, as reported by state media. Both officials maintained that China is open to talks if the country is treated as an equal.
Earlier this week, China also warned of countermeasures against countries engaging with the U.S. at Beijing’s expense. In response to these tensions, several Wall Street banks have lowered their GDP forecasts for China.
