China seeks equal footing in US trade talks, rejects pressure tactics

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
24 Apr 2025 11:43

Beijing emphasizes that future US trade talks must be rooted in mutual respect.

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A woman walks past Chinese and United States' national flags on display at a merchandise store in Beijing, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP)

China has indicated a willingness to engage in US trade talks, but insists that negotiations must occur without threats or coercion. This comes after President Trump suggested he might ease tariffs on Chinese goods, raising hopes for a breakthrough in ongoing economic tensions.

“China’s attitude towards the tariff war launched by the US is quite clear: We don’t want to fight, but we are not afraid of it. If we fight, we will fight to the end; if we talk, the door is wide open,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Wednesday.

While this position is consistent with China’s past statements, recent remarks from both Beijing and Washington suggest renewed interest in resuming US trade talks to de-escalate the situation.

Trump hints at flexibility in US trade talks with China

President Trump stated that he does not intend to "play hardball" with China and expressed optimism that a trade agreement could be reached. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also signaled a potential de-escalation during a private investor meeting, indicating a more constructive approach to US trade talks.

The softened rhetoric marks a shift from previous weeks of tariff hikes and confrontational exchanges, which had disrupted global markets.

China demands respectful negotiations in US trade talks

Despite its readiness for dialogue, China remains firm that any US trade talks must be based on mutual respect and equality.

“If the US really wants to resolve the issue through dialogue and negotiation, it should stop making threats and coercions and engage in dialogue with China on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit,” Guo Jiakun emphasized.

Experts note that China’s leadership is keen to avoid any perception of weakness, especially as public sentiment hardens against US policies.

Moreover, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun slammed on Thursday the reports that China and the US have held negotiations or consultations on the tariff issues as "false information".

"This is all false information. As far as I know, China and the United States have not held talks or consultations on the tariff issue, let alone reached an agreement," Guo told reporters when asked to confirm the American side's claims that Beijing and Washington are negotiating a settlement to the trade war and may even reach an agreement.

Stocks rise after Trump uses more gentle tone on China ahead of US trade talks

Global markets responded positively to the possibility of renewed US trade talks, with Asian indices, including Hong Kong’s Hang Seng, seeing strong gains. The improved sentiment reflects investor hopes that both nations might step back from prolonged economic conflict.

Wall Street stocks posted solid gains for a second consecutive session on Wednesday, as investors responded positively to the Trump administration’s more conciliatory approach to trade negotiations with China.

Markets remained in positive territory throughout the day, buoyed by additional reassurance from US President Donald Trump, who stated he had no intention of removing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 1.1% at 39,606.57. The broader S&P 500 rose 1.7% to 5,375.85, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index surged 2.5% to 16,708.05.

Markets shrug off global growth concerns before US trade talks with China

Despite a recent downgrade of global growth forecasts by the International Monetary Fund and a cautious Federal Reserve Beige Book report noting that the economic outlook had "worsened considerably" in several US regions due to tariff uncertainty, investor sentiment remained upbeat.

Art Hogan of B. Riley Wealth Management explained that markets were reacting positively to "any headline that's less negative on trade." He noted, "We've moved into a slightly more positive position, but we still don't know what the endgame will be on trade."

Soaring tariff tensions

The policy reevaluation follows a wave of criticism after the White House enacted sweeping trade measures earlier this month, including a universal 10% tariff on all imports and reciprocal tariffs of up to 245% targeting nations with large trade surpluses.

Facing industry resistance—particularly from the tech sector—the administration has already backtracked on some measures.

On April 12, it announced exemptions for key electronics like smartphones, laptops, and semiconductors, which are heavily sourced from China. These exemptions, made retroactive to April 5, highlight a growing recognition that the blanket tariff approach could be economically damaging.

Meanwhile, tensions with the media have intensified. Elon Musk recently accused Reuters of accepting "millions of dollars from the US government for misleading the audience." Trump echoed the claim, calling on the agency to return the funds.