China said Friday that it is evaluating the US offer to negotiate tariffs but insisted that Washington must be ready to scrap the levies, which have roiled global markets and supply chains, before talks can begin.
The US imposed punishing tariffs of up to 145% on many Chinese products in April, while Beijing responded by implementing fresh 125% duties on imports from the United States.
The US has temporarily reprieved high-end tech goods such as smartphones, semiconductors, and computers from tariffs.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that China has reached out for talks on the tariffs and stated this week that he believes there is a "very good chance we'll make a deal."
Beijing's commerce ministry said on Friday that the US had reached out and that China was "currently evaluating" the offer. However, it emphasized that any talks would first require concessions from the US side.
"If the US wants to talk, it should show its sincerity to do so, be prepared to correct its wrong practices, and cancel unilateral tariffs," the ministry said.
"In any possible dialogue or talks, if the US side does not correct its wrong unilateral tariff measures, it just means the US side is completely insincere and will further damage the mutual trust between the two sides," it added.
"Saying one thing and doing another, or even attempting coercion and blackmail under the guise of talks, will not work," the commerce ministry said.
Wu Xinbo, director of the Center for American Studies at Shanghai's Fudan University, said that Beijing would likely take a tough stance.
"Of course, the US hopes to start negotiations as soon as possible, but our attitude is: 'you must first take some action to show sincerity'," Wu told the source.
He said that once the US revokes tariffs on China, "we can discuss our legitimate concerns," such as Washington's worries about unbalanced bilateral trade and Beijing's grievances over US efforts to "suppress" its technological development.
Washington has given dozens of countries a 90-day deadline, expiring in July, to strike an agreement and avoid higher, country-specific rates.
Beijing has vowed to fight a trade war to the bitter end if needed, with its foreign ministry posting a video on social media this week, declaring, "Never kneel down!"
"China's position has always been perfectly consistent," the commerce ministry said Friday.
"If it's a fight, we will fight to the end; if it's talk, the door is wide open. The US side unilaterally initiated the tariff war and trade war."
Olive branch:
China has acknowledged that global economic fluctuations have strained its economy, which has long depended on exports, with officials admitting that foreign-facing firms are facing difficulties.This week's data showed that factory activity shrank in April, with Beijing blaming a "sharp shift" in the global economy.
On Wednesday, data showed that the US economy unexpectedly contracted in the first three months of the year, as Donald Trump's tariff plans triggered an import surge.
On Friday, the United States also ended tariff exemptions for goods shipped from China worth less than $800, a move that could significantly impact consumers' purchasing habits.
Ja-Ian Chong of the National University of Singapore said it remained unclear whether both sides could make any progress, despite the mounting economic need for a deal.
"Neither side wishes to look weak," he said.
Analyst Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management said Beijing's latest comments represented the "first olive branch" in the gruelling trade war.
"He wrote in a note, 'On paper, both capitals are waving detente flags. But dig a layer deeper, and the path still lies littered with landmines.'"
"China's pledge to fight 'to the end' wasn't retired — just shoved behind softer soundbites — and the 'cancel duties first' stick remains a non-starter for the White House."
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