‘Absolutely No Negotiations’: China tells Trump there will be no tariff talks unless he backs down

Beijing has firmly denied statements from the Trump White House suggesting that trade talks are currently happening, saying no such discussions are taking place. This strong position highlights China’s clear demand that the United States must first remove all of its one-sided tariffs before any talks can begin.

The statement, made by Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yadong and found by CNBC, directly goes against recent comments from President Trump and his team, which hinted at possible cuts to tariffs. Trump himself mentioned that the 145% tariff on Chinese goods could be greatly reduced, while White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration was “preparing for a deal with China,” per Fox. However, He Yadong called these claims unfounded.

“At present there are absolutely no negotiations on the economy and trade between China and the U.S,” He Yadong told reporters, “If the U.S. really wants to resolve the problem … it should cancel all the unilateral measures on China.”

China isn’t talking to US until tariffs are gone

This outright rejection shows a major change in China’s trade dispute strategy. Earlier, China had shown openness to negotiations. But now, seeing what it views as unpredictable U.S. policies and unclear intentions from President Trump, China has taken a tougher stance.

It insists that all U.S. tariffs must be fully lifted before any discussions can happen. The Chinese government has also warned other countries against making agreements with the U.S. that could harm China’s interests.

The ongoing trade war is hurting both economies. Several major Wall Street banks have reduced their forecasts for China’s GDP growth due to the rising tensions and tariffs, showing how the dispute is affecting China’s economy. The U.S. is also feeling the impact since China is its biggest trading partner when looking at individual countries.

Still, China is expanding its trade ties elsewhere. Southeast Asia has now surpassed the European Union as China’s largest regional trading partner. This shows China’s ability to adjust its trade strategy and lessen the damage from U.S. tariffs by shifting its focus. The U.S. has decided to increase tariffs in other countries instead of strengthening ties.