‘We’re Not Having Negotiation On Tariffs’: China Denies Talks With US To Reach Deal

<p>China on Thursday denied any talks with the US to reach a deal on tariffs, saying that there is &ldquo;no factual basis&rdquo; for any claims of progress in the bilateral talks.</p>
<p>&ldquo;China and the US are not having consultation or negotiation on tariffs, still less reaching a deal,&rdquo; Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a media briefing here, reacting to reports that China and the US are having talks and are even about to reach a deal.</p>
<p>&ldquo;This tariff war was launched by the US. China’s position is consistent and clear. We will fight if it is a must. Our doors are open if the US wants to talk; dialogue and negotiation must be based on equality, respect, and mutual benefit,&rdquo; Guo said.</p>
<p>Separately, China’s Commerce Ministry has also refuted reports about the US-China talks to reach a deal on tariffs, saying there is &ldquo;no factual basis&rdquo; for such reports.</p>
<p>Replying to questions at a media briefing, the ministry&rsquo;s spokesperson, He Yadong, said, &ldquo;If the US truly wants to resolve the issue, it should heed rational voices from the international community and domestic stakeholders, completely abolish all unilateral tariffs on China, and find a solution through equal dialogue.&rdquo;</p>
<p>In statements this week, US President Donald Trump appeared willing to reconsider the high tariffs he has levied on Chinese goods since the beginning of his second term.</p>
<p>He has also suggested senior officials from Beijing had been in contact with Washington to start laying the groundwork for discussions on the matter, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.</p>
<p>Also at a closed-door meeting with investors on Tuesday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was reported to have said that the high tariff war between the US and China is unsustainable.</p>
<p>&ldquo;No one thinks the current status quo is sustainable, at 145 and 125 [per cent], so I would posit that over the very near future, there will be a de-escalation,&rdquo; he said, referring to the top end of most of the tariffs that Trump has put on imports from China, the Post report said.</p>
<p>Trump has imposed 145 per cent tariffs against China, and in a later fact sheet on tariffs, the White House on Apr 17 said China now faces up to a 245 per cent tariff on imports to the US as a result of Beijing&rsquo;s retaliatory actions of imposing 125 per cent levies against US imports.</p>
<p>While escalating tariffs against China, Trump has paused his tariffs against the rest of the countries, including India, for 90 days, leaving Beijing isolated.&nbsp;</p>
<p><em><strong>(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)</strong></em></p>