BANGKOK (AP) 鈥 China on Thursday denied any suggestion that it was in active negotiations with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump over tariffs, saying that any notion of progress in the matter was as groundless as 鈥渢rying to catch the wind.鈥
China鈥檚 comments come after Trump said Tuesday that things were going 鈥渇ine with China鈥 and tariff rate on Chinese exports would come down 鈥渟ubstantially鈥 from the current 145%.
Guo Jiakun, a spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry, said during a daily briefing on Thursday that, 鈥淔or all I know, China and the U.S. are not having any consultation or negotiation on tariffs, still less reaching a deal.鈥
鈥淐hina鈥檚 position is consistent and we are open to consultations and dialogues, but any form of consultations and negotiations must be conducted on the basis of mutual respect and in an equal manner,鈥 Commerce Ministry spokesman He Yadong said.
鈥淎ny claims about the progress of China-U.S. trade negotiations are groundless as trying to catch the wind and have no factual basis," the spokesman said.
Trump had told reporters earlier in the week that "everything鈥檚 active鈥 when asked if he was engaging with China, although his treasury secretary had said there were no formal negotiations.
Asked Thursday about China denying there were any conversations ongoing with the U.S., Trump said 鈥淭hey had a meeting this morning,鈥 before adding, 鈥渋t doesn鈥檛 matter who they is.鈥
The U.S. president has expressed interest in a way to climb down from his massive retaliatory tariffs on Chinese imports to the U.S. There are mounting business and consumer concerns that the taxes will drive up inflation and potentially send the economy into a recession.
Trump had put 145% tariffs on imports from China, while with 125% tariffs on U.S. products. While Trump has given other countries a 90-day pause on the tariffs, as their leaders pledged to negotiate with the U.S., China remained the exception. Instead, Beijing raised its own tariffs and deployed other economic measures in response while vowing to 鈥渇ight to the end.鈥 For example, China and raised multiple cases against the U.S. at the World Trade Organization.
China also made it clear that talks should involve the cancellation of all tariffs it currently faces.
鈥淭he unilateral tariff increase measures were initiated by the United States. If the United States really wants to solve the problem, it should face up to the rational voices of the international community and all parties at home, completely cancel all unilateral tariff measures against China, and find ways to resolve differences through equal dialogue,鈥 said He, the Commerce Ministry spokesman.
Despite the economic measures leveled against China, Trump said Tuesday that he would be 鈥渧ery nice鈥 and not play hardball with Chinese President .
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to live together very happily and ideally work together,鈥 Trump said.
