Michelle ThompsonChina has urged the United States to drop broad tariffs on Chinese imports as a signal that President Donald Trump is genuinely committed to resolving the ongoing trade conflict between the two nations.
A Chinese official confirmed that no negotiations on trade had taken place with the US, despite claims from the Trump administration suggesting otherwise.
Tensions have continued to mount between the world’s top two economies. In its latest move, China returned Boeing aircraft it had ordered from the US in retaliation to the imposed tariffs.
Trump has shown signs of easing his approach, noting that while tariffs on Chinese imports could be reduced significantly, they wouldn’t be entirely eliminated. The trade standoff remains heated, with the US imposing tariffs up to 145% on Chinese goods and China responding with a 125% tax on American exports.
In one of China’s most direct remarks yet, Commerce Ministry spokesperson He Yadong stated that the US should remove all “unilateral tariff measures” if it genuinely wants to resolve the issue. “Whoever tied the knot must untie it,” he added.
Separately, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated that there had been no tariff-related talks or agreements with the US, calling reports that suggest otherwise “untrue.”
While Trump claimed negotiations were “active,” this was contradicted by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who confirmed that discussions had not yet started. However, Bessent expressed optimism, saying there was potential for a major trade agreement and emphasized that the current situation was “no laughing matter.” Trump also mentioned he’d be “very nice” in any future talks with Beijing to reach a trade deal.
Reacting to China’s latest comments, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Boeing should sue China for refusing to accept aircraft it had previously agreed to buy. He cited this as just one example of how China had wronged the US and again accused the country of being responsible for the flow of fentanyl into the US via Mexico and Canada, blaming it for a high death toll.
Boeing’s CEO, Kelly Ortberg, confirmed that two aircraft had already been returned, with a third expected soon due to ongoing trade friction.
Meanwhile, China held a roundtable on Wednesday to listen to concerns from over 80 foreign companies about how US tariffs are affecting their investments and operations in China. Vice Commerce Minister Ling Ji encouraged these firms to “turn crises into opportunities.”
