Cliff Notes – China says it’s evaluating US overtures for trade talks, but tariffs remain an obstacle

China’s Commerce Ministry is evaluating the Trump administration’s approaches for trade talks, but one-sided tariffs up to 145% are seen as a significant barrier, undermining trust between the two nations.
The ministry reaffirmed China’s openness to negotiations, but insisted that any dialogue must be genuine and accompanied by actions to reverse the imposed tariffs, which China claims were initiated unilaterally by the U.S.
In response to U.S. tariff increases, China has escalated its duties on American imports, implemented restrictions on certain strategic exports, and halted imports of various U.S. agricultural products.

China says it’s evaluating US overtures for trade talks, but tariffs remain an obstacle

Shipping containers are seen ready for transport at the Guangzhou Port in the Nansha district in southern China’s Guangdong province on April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

BEIJING (AP) — China’s Commerce Ministry said Friday that Beijing is evaluating multiple approaches by the Trump administration for trade talks.

However, in a ministry statement it said one-sided tariffs of up to 145% remain an obstacle, undermining trust.

The statement reiterated China’s stance that is open to talks, but also that Beijing is determined to fight if it must.

“The tariff and trade wars were unilaterally initiated by the U.S., if the U.S. side wants to talk, it should show its sincerity, and be ready to take action on issues such as correcting wrong practices and canceling the unilateral imposition of tariffs,” it said.

The statement cited an unnamed ministry spokesperson as saying that Beijing had taken note of various statements by senior U.S. officials indicating a willingness to negotiate over tariffs.

“At the same time, the U.S. has recently taken the initiative to convey information to the Chinese side on a number of occasions through relevant parties, hoping to talk with the Chinese side. In this regard, the Chinese side is making an assessment, it said.

But it emphasized that China would regard overtures without a change in President Donald Trump’s sharp tariff hikes as insincere.

“Saying one thing but doing another, or even attempting to engage in coercion and blackmail under the guise of talks, will not work on the Chinese side,” it said.

China is in the midst of a public holiday, with government offices closed.

Beijing has responded to Trump’s tariff hikes by raising its own duties on imports of U.S. products to as high as 125%. It has also tightened restrictions on exports to the U.S. of certain strategically important minerals and stopped importing a wide range of U.S. farm products.