Dubious Reporting: China Challenges Assertions about U.S. Trade Negotiations
Straight-up dismissal When reporters asked if the US and China have started trade talks, apparently instigated by Trump's claims of contacting Chinese officials, Chinese Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun shut it down, saying "it's all fake news" at a press conference on Thursday.
The Commerce Ministry echoed the sentiment at a separate conference the same day.
"If the US is really eager to resolve this mess, they need to pay attention to rational voices from the international community and domestic stakeholders, scrap those dumb tariffs on China once and for all, and work things out through equal conversations," said Commerce Ministry spokesman He Yadong.
Unyielding China: No negotiations unless the US gets real
According to our sources, China's stance on US trade negotiations is all about conditional engagement and US concessions. Guo Jiakun, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, flat-out denied any ongoing negotiations, labeling it "nothing but hot air"[1]. He Yadong, spokesperson for the Commerce Ministry, doubled down on this position, stating that the U.S. must first "kill off all those stupid tariffs against China" before any meaningful talks can occur[1].
Key demands by China include:- Hasta la tariffs: China is pushing hard for the U.S. to yank those pesky tariffs out of the picture as a first step[1].- No more escalation: While holding onto retaliatory tariffs (as high as 125%), China has sworn to refrain from any further increases[1].- Strategic advantage: Recent export restrictions on rare earth elements and magnets targeted at US industries hint at China's retaliatory stance and perceived upper hand in the negotiations[1].
Officials assert that China is keeping the doors open for talks, but only if the U.S. proves its seriousness through tangible policy shifts[1]. This stance seems to mirror Beijing's belief that domestic economic pressure points in the US, like the risk of recession and inflation tied to tariffs, give China the edge in this standoff[1].
- The ongoing trade conflict between the US and China seems to be at an impasse, as China refuses to engage in negotiations unless the US abolishes the existing tariffs, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun.
- Commerce Ministry spokesperson He Yadong echoed this sentiment, stating that the US must first rescind its tariffs before any meaningful trade talks can take place.
- China has also made it clear that it will not escalate the trade war further, but will hold onto its retaliatory tariffs as a bargaining chip.
- The Chinese government maintains that it is open to negotiations, but only if the US demonstrates its sincerity through substantial policy changes, reflecting Beijing's perception of the domestic economic pressure points in the US as a strategic advantage in the ongoing trade standoff.
