Saturday, March 29, 2025
Beijing is carefully reviewing a proposal for China trade talks with US, despite previous assertions by former President Donald Trump that negotiations were already in progress. The Chinese commerce ministry confirmed on Friday that Washington had reached out through several channels to initiate economic discussions.
Chinese officials said the US had taken the first step by contacting Beijing “on many occasions” to express a desire to open economic and trade talks. However, China pushed back against Trump’s claim that President Xi Jinping had already spoken with him directly, calling it misinformation.
Nationalist blogger Ren Yi, known as Chairman Rabbit, echoed official statements, writing that sources revealed the US had been “frequently and proactively” reaching out to Chinese representatives. Ren denied any indication that China had submitted to American pressure, stating that initiating talks was not Beijing’s idea.
The commerce ministry emphasized that any talks must be grounded in mutual respect, stating that Washington must show “sincerity” and avoid tactics like “coercion and extortion.” Chinese officials continue to criticize US trade behavior as aggressive and unilateral.
Beijing also released a video through its foreign ministry comparing concessions to US demands to “drinking poison,” making clear that China won’t yield easily in the face of American pressure.
Even as rhetoric intensifies, both nations have eased some tariff restrictions to reduce pressure on their economies. Despite a heated trade war with tariffs reaching 145% on Chinese goods and 125% on US exports, both sides have allowed limited exceptions.
Economic data reflects the strain. Chinese factory output declined in April due to what officials described as “sharp changes in the external environment.” President Xi Jinping urged his administration to adapt swiftly to global shifts.
A new US executive order that closes the “de minimis” loophole came into effect Friday, removing exemptions for low-value imports that largely benefited Chinese exporters. This move is seen as part of Washington’s strategy to pressure Beijing economically.
Meanwhile, US treasury officials, including Scott Bessent, expressed hope that negotiations will move forward. “First, we need to de-escalate, and then over time, we will start focusing on a larger trade deal,” Bessent said.
