The Chinese government has stated that it is "evaluating" an offer from the US to start trade talks, just a week after Donald Trump claimed that discussions were already in progress. On Friday, China's commerce ministry stated, "The US has recently taken the initiative on many occasions to convey information to China through relevant parties, saying it hopes to talk with China." On Thursday, prominent commentators in China suggested that the country was open to talks. Ren Yi, a nationalist blogger known as Chairman Rabbit, shared that sources informed him that the US had "frequently and proactively contacted the Chinese side through various channels, hoping to negotiate with the Chinese government on economic and trade issues." 

China has rejected statements by U.S. officials suggesting that negotiations were already happening or that China had initiated them. Trump had claimed last week that Chinese President Xi Jinping had contacted him. In response, China’s foreign ministry blamed the U.S. of “misleading the public” about the talks. Ren commented, “If China had given in and taken the initiative to give in to the United States, then naturally there would not have been the United States taking the initiative to contact China.” Meanwhile, on Friday, China’s commerce ministry stated that the U.S. must demonstrate “sincerity” in negotiations and avoid using “coercion and extortion.” 

China has consistently criticised the United States for using aggressive tactics in its trade policy. Tensions have escalated between the two nations since early April, when former President Trump initiated a new phase of the US-China trade conflict. Currently, American tariffs on Chinese imports have surged to 145%, while China has imposed retaliatory duties of up to 125%. Despite neither country wanting to appear as though it's backing down, both have already made some tariff exemptions to ease the impact of a trade war that could seriously disrupt the global economy.

China’s factory move stalled in April, with the statistics bureau attributing the drop to “sharp changes in [China’s] external environment” for the downfall. In response, President Xi urged officials this week to adapt to shifts in the global landscape, though he did not cite the US. Meanwhile, Chinese state messaging has taken a more direct tone. The foreign ministry released a video accusing the US of bullying and warned that giving in to such pressure would be like “drinking poison.” 

A U.S. executive order officially ending the “de minimis” tariff exemption took effect on Friday. This policy had previously allowed low-cost items to enter the country without customs duties, and its removal is expected to impact Chinese exporters who relied on it significantly. Scott Bessent expressed confidence earlier this week that China would be willing to make a deal. The U.S. Treasury secretary stated, “First, we need to de-escalate, and then over time, we will start focusing on a larger trade deal.”