China said it is considering a US proposal to launch negotiations with radical tariffs on US President Donald Trump.
The US has “recently expressed its desire to actively communicate its message and engage in consultations through relevant channels,” the Chinese Commerce Department said in a statement Friday.
“China is currently evaluating this.”
Beijing’s remarks come after Chinese state media reported earlier in the week that the Trump administration had “actively reached out” through multiple channels.
Trump’s trade war with China has led to a de facto mutual trade embargo between the two biggest economies of the world.
Businesses and investors are waiting with concern for signs that Washington and Beijing will ease sudden tariffs on each other’s goods amid fears that long-term standoffs will cause serious damage to the global economy.
The International Monetary Fund cut its 2025 global growth forecast to 2.8% last month from 3.3% in January, with JPMorgan Chase putting a potential US recession at 60% this year.
Christopher Beddor, assistant China research director at Dividkal Dragonomics, a Beijing financial services company, said that if the US is serious, it appears to be honest with the openness to consultations.
“Again, they have a lot of tools. The tariffs are already in place, but there are export controls too, so we can launch more probes to US companies,” Beddor told Al Jazeera.
“The list goes on. Most importantly, they are ready to stimulate to slow down the damage to economic growth. However, policymakers clearly understand that it is much better if they don’t need to use those tools because of de-escalation.”
Trump, who slapped a 145% tariff on China’s exports, repeatedly claimed that his administration was in negotiations with Beijing.
On Wednesday, Trump said there is a “very good opportunity” to reach a trade deal with China as long as it is “fair.”
In a statement Friday, China’s Commerce Ministry said its stance on trade disputes is consistent.
“If there is a fight, we will fight to the end. If there is a consultation, the door is open,” the ministry said.
“The tariff and trade wars will be launched unilaterally by the United States and should demonstrate integrity if the United States wants to speak by correcting false actions and preparing to withdraw the unilateral imposed on additional tariffs,” he said, adding that “will not work in blackmail and blackmail in an attempt to use consultation.”
“Wake Up Call”
In an interview with Fox News, which aired Thursday night, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump’s tariffs have been damaging China’s economy so Beijing is eager to talk about it.
“The Chinese are reaching out, they want to meet and talk,” Rubio told Fox News host Sean Hannity. “We’re involved in that.”
Rubio also said tensions are a “wake-up call” for the US and that the country should not rely on China.
“Two more years in this direction. We’ve got into a lot of trouble and we’re really dependent on China,” he said. “So I think there’s this broad question about how much we should buy from them.”
Steven Okun, CEO of Singapore-based consulting firm Apac Advisors, said it’s not surprising that a meeting between Chinese and US authorities will characterize contacts as “negotiations,” “given the economic interdependence and the damages that will be inflicted on both.”
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