China Demands End to U.S. Tariffs Amid Trade War

China is pressing the United States to cancel all “unilateral” tariffs as a necessary step toward resolving the ongoing trade tensions between both countries. This call comes amid speculation that the U.S. may be considering reducing tariffs on Chinese imports.

At a press briefing on Thursday, China’s Ministry of Commerce spokesperson, He Yadong, emphasized that the removal of U.S. tariff measures is essential if Washington is genuinely interested in ending the trade dispute.

“The person who tied the bell must untie it,” He said, signaling that the U.S. should take responsibility for initiating the tariff conflict.

Despite recent statements from President Donald Trump suggesting that there has been “direct contact” between Washington and Beijing, Chinese officials have denied that any trade talks or negotiations have taken place.

“China and the United States have not conducted consultations or negotiations on tariffs, let alone reached an agreement,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun clarified, dismissing reports of ongoing talks as misinformation.

According to a Reuters source, the Trump administration is considering reducing tariffs on Chinese goods—currently set at 145%—to a range between 50% and 65%, pending possible talks with China.

China also convened a roundtable discussion on Wednesday, engaging with representatives from over 80 foreign enterprises and business chambers. The session focused on the negative impacts of U.S. tariffs on foreign investments and operations in China.

Vice Commerce Minister Ling Ji encouraged foreign businesses to “turn crises into opportunities” and assured them that the government is working on solutions to ease their challenges.

Meanwhile, at the G20 Finance Ministers Meeting held alongside the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, China’s Central Bank Governor Pan Gongsheng reaffirmed the country’s commitment to upholding global free trade principles and the multilateral trading system.

As pressure mounts on both sides, the international community and economic stakeholders continue to watch closely for signs of a breakthrough in the prolonged U.S.-China trade war.