Trade Talks: China Accuses US of Misleading the Public

The Chinese foreign ministry has called on the United States to stop “misleading the public” regarding bilateral tariff negotiations, stating that it was unaware of any reports suggesting Beijing was planning to exempt tariffs on certain US imports.

A spokesperson for the ministry, Guo Jiakun, made this statement on Friday during a press briefing.

“The United States and China are not engaged in consultations or talks on the tariff issue,” Guo said.

On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that trade talks between the two countries were ongoing, despite both China’s foreign ministry and commerce ministry denying such negotiations.

Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, also stated that he was unaware of any plans to exempt tariffs on certain U.S. imports.

The exchange of remarks between Beijing and Washington has caused further confusion about when, or if, talks on high tariffs between the world’s two largest economies will begin.

Multiple rounds of tariff hikes and retaliatory measures have led to U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods reaching 145% and China’s tariffs on U.S. imports at 125%, disrupting businesses on both sides.

The Trump administration had suggested it might lower tariffs on some imported Chinese goods, depending on negotiations with Beijing, according to Reuters. Meanwhile, China emphasized that the U.S. should cancel all “unilateral” tariffs in order to resolve the trade issue.

On Friday, China’s top policymakers convened a meeting and stressed the importance of supporting businesses and workers amidst growing “external shocks.”

The tit-for-tat tariffs, which began with Trump’s announcement of heavy import levies on April 2, had threatened to disrupt trade between the two countries and raised concerns about global economic slowdown.

This week, the U.S. changed its stance, acknowledging the unsustainable nature of the situation, while China is considering exempting some U.S. imports from its 125% tariffs, signaling Beijing’s concerns about the economic impact.

These developments reflect a shift in tone from both nations, suggesting they may be moving toward easing the trade war.