China confirmed Friday that it is reviewing an offer from the United States to resume negotiations over tariffs but insisted that Washington must first cancel its punitive trade duties before any meaningful dialogue can begin.
The Chinese Commerce Ministry stated that the U.S. had initiated contact and that the offer is being “evaluated,” but warned that negotiations cannot proceed unless the U.S. shows genuine intent by reversing its unilateral tariff hikes.
“If the U.S. wants to talk, it should show sincerity by correcting its wrong practices and removing the tariffs,” the ministry said. “Any talks without this step will only further damage mutual trust.”
The current trade standoff intensified in April when the U.S. imposed tariffs as high as 145% on several Chinese imports. In retaliation, China slapped duties of up to 125% on American goods. Some high-tech products, including semiconductors and smartphones, were temporarily spared.
U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that China is eager to negotiate, even expressing optimism this week about a potential deal. However, Beijing pushed back on that narrative, accusing Washington of attempting coercion and "blackmail" under the guise of diplomacy.
"Saying one thing and doing another will not work," the ministry added.
Wu Xinbo, director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University, said China will not budge easily. “Beijing's attitude is clear: the U.S. must first act to show sincerity,” he said, adding that only then can legitimate concerns from both sides be addressed — including issues around trade imbalances and technological restrictions.
Meanwhile, dozens of countries face a looming 90-day deadline from Washington to reach tariff agreements or face higher, country-specific rates. China, however, has signalled it’s ready to fight a prolonged trade war if necessary. A social media video from China’s foreign ministry this week boldly declared: “Never kneel down!”
While China's economy has shown signs of strain — with factory activity shrinking in April — it remains defiant. Officials cited global instability as a factor behind weakening export-driven sectors.
Still, some analysts see a glimmer of hope. Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management called China’s latest comments the “first olive branch” in the long-running dispute, but warned that both sides remain far apart.
“Publicly, both nations are signaling a desire for détente,” he said. “But beneath the surface, hardline positions still dominate. China’s call to scrap duties is a non-starter for the White House.”
With economic pressures mounting on both sides, the world watches to see whether the rhetoric will give way to real progress — or a deeper descent into trade hostilities.