China to Reduce Tariffs on Certain US Imports
Gordon Chang, a senior fellow at the Gatestone Institute, will discuss China’s decision to lift tariffs on select US goods during the “Fox Report,” analyzing the wider repercussions of the ongoing trade tensions with the Trump administration.
China’s Commerce Department stated on Friday that the country is “evaluating” the US offer to engage in discussions regarding tariffs. This shift in tone might signal a potential easing of the trade conflict plaguing both economies.
According to the ministry’s statement, “The US has indicated it has been pursuing various communication avenues to connect with China and is hoping to discuss matters further.” They also mentioned that Beijing is currently “assessing this.”
Despite this openness to negotiations, the Commerce Ministry cautioned that China will not be pressured into an unfavorable deal. The ministry remarked that “using consultations as a pretext for coercion and intimidation doesn’t work.”
President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping
Trump Indicates Xi’s Close Contacts Amid Ongoing Trade Talks
During a recent appearance on Fox Business, Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent expressed his belief that Beijing aims to strike a deal with the US. He suggested, “I’m certain the Chinese are keen to resolve the trade situation. This will unfold in several phases; first, we must escalate, then shift focus to substantial trade agreements.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent will speak at a briefing Tuesday with White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt at the White House in Washington, D.C.
High-Stakes Tariff Game as Trump Marks 100 Days
Last month, President Trump stated that he had eliminated global tariffs and imposed 145% tariffs on imports from China. In response, China enacted a 125% tariff on US goods. Interestingly, recent reports indicate China has begun lifting tariffs on numerous American products.
While certain exemptions for medications, microchips, and aircraft engines were already established, China has now introduced exemptions for ethane imports, as reported.
This recent change in Beijing’s stance regarding tariffs sharply contrasts with comments made during an April 23 meeting at the UN Security Council, where China criticized the US for its “unilateral practices and bullying tactics” that allegedly affect global relations.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump.
“Under the guise of fair dealings and reciprocity, the US engages in a zero-sum strategy, overturning the established international economic order via tariffs, boosting US profits at the expense of global interests, and furthering its hegemonic aims,” a statement from the State Department observed. They further criticized the recent UN meeting as merely wasting time for Security Council members, also highlighting China’s manipulation of multilateral frameworks to advance its own economic and political objectives.
