China’s Foreign Ministry on Friday rejected accusations by US President Donald Trump of continuing tariff talks, declaring categorically that no talks are ongoing between Beijing and Washington regarding the imposition of high tariffs on bilateral trade.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said so at a press conference, calling on the United States not to “mislead the public.” He also repeated that “the United States and China are not holding consultations or talks about the tariff question,” and commented that he was not aware of any US imports which China was likely to exempt.
Trump’s Thursday statements asserting that there were trade talks in the works contradicted earlier denials from China’s Foreign and Commerce Ministries. The mixed signals between both governments have only added to the ambiguity about the future of US-China trade relations.
The protracted trade dispute has produced several rounds of tit-for-tat tariff increases. US duties on Chinese imports have gone as high as 145%, and China has put 125% duties on American exports disrupting activities for many global companies and stoking fears of a broader economic downturn.
Though the Trump administration has indicated before that it would be willing to lower tariffs on some Chinese imports in exchange for talks, Beijing has insisted that Washington abolish all “unilateral” tariffs as a prerequisite for making headway.
Chinese policymakers met the same day to discuss the economy’s resilience to the so-called “external shocks” and renewed the seriousness with which Beijing approaches the escalating trade tensions.
In spite of the latest denials, reports this week indicated China is considering exemptions on some US imports a tentative sign that there might be economic consequence concern. This comes as both countries appear to be willing to dial back a trade war that has shaken markets and posed risks to world growth.
