China says it is not negotiating trade with the US
GlendonChina has said it is not in any talks with the United States about raising tariffs, although recent statements from the White House have raised hopes of easing trade tensions between the world's two largest economies, CNBC reported.
China has said it is not in any talks with the United States about raising tariffs, although recent statements from the White House have raised hopes of easing trade tensions between the world's two largest economies, CNBC reported.
A spokesman for China's Ministry of Commerce said there are "absolutely no economic or trade talks currently taking place between China and the United States," CNBC reported Thursday. The spokesman said "all talk" about potential progress in the discussions should be discarded, the business news outlet reported.
Beijing also called on the US to "cancel all unilateral measures" if it wants to "solve the problem," CNBC reported.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said he wanted to reach a "fair deal" with China on trade, although he did not elaborate on possible talks with Beijing.
Trump has made China a major target of his aggressive tariffs, raising tariffs on imports from the country to at least 145%. That has prompted a backlash from China, which has raised tariffs on American products to 125%.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said those tariffs would need to be reduced before talks could continue, but he stressed that Trump would not take such a step on his own.
"Neither side believes these are sustainable levels," Bessent said, a remark that helped fuel a rally in Wall Street stocks Wednesday.
The comments came after the Wall Street Journal reported that the White House was considering cutting its punitive tariffs on China to 50% to ease the negotiations. However, Trump officials would not do so unilaterally, Reuters reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.
