China Says It's Considering Starting Tariff Talks With US
China is "evaluating" whether to begin trade talks with the U.S. after the Trump administration recently sent messages to Beijing in a bid to start negotiations about recent tariffs imposed by the two nations, China's Ministry of Commerce said May 2, according to an unofficial translation of a portion of a press conference. Senior U.S. officials "have repeatedly expressed their willingness to negotiate with China on tariffs," a ministry spokesperson said. "China is currently evaluating this."
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The spokesperson said the current tariff war between the two sides was "unilaterally initiated by the United States," adding that the U.S. "should show its sincerity and be prepared to correct its wrong practices and cancel the unilateral tariffs." It also accused the U.S. of "leaking" information about upcoming changes to tariffs.
"China's position is consistent. If we fight, we will fight to the end; if we talk, the door is open," the person said. They added: "Saying one thing and doing another, or even trying to coerce and blackmail under the guise of talks, will not work with China."
The White House didn't respond to a request for comment. White House policy adviser Stephen Miller told reporters May 1 that "countries from all over the world, because of President Trump's leadership, are desperate and dying to make trade deals with the United States." He said the U.S. is "going to evaluate each of those deals," and Trump will be "personally involved."