Unlike Donald Trump’s allegations are the US, not the Beijing ‘pressed’ to take negotiations for customs dutiesassured today (1.5.2025) Chinese state media.
Beijing claims that the US government has already approached the Chinese side through various channels, taking the initiative for contacts. The world’s two largest economies have been in trade war for weeks, after the high customs duties launched by US President Donald Trump. The US has imposed 145% duties on most Chinese products imported into the US market, while China has responded to countermeasures up to 125% in some categories of US imported goods.
For some time now, “the United States, through various channels, has taken the initiative to get in touch with China, hoping to start negotiations on the issue of customs duties,” said Yuyuan Tantian, which belongs to the CCTV state television network, citing sources. “As far as negotiations are concerned, the US is undoubtedly the most pressed side. As the Trump government is currently facing multiple pressures. Financial pressure, but also the pressure of public opinion, ”, according to the same source.
President Trump, for his part, has argued that it was Beijing who asked for talks – something China categorically denies. The same sources from the Chinese media point out that, since there are no specific moves from Washington, Beijing has no reason to sit on the table.
Beijing has repeatedly said that it is open to a dialogue with the US about trade, but on the basis of “mutual respect” and not under the “threat” of customs duties. China’s Foreign Ministry did not respond immediately to a commentary request, but in official videos it released this week, it says that “China is never going to kneel” and will continue the trade war “until the end” if Washington insists on imposing customs duties.