China has indicated its readiness for talks on resolving the ongoing trade dispute with the United States if President Donald Trump and his team begin to act in a way that promotes mutual respect.
The U.S. and China have been embroiled in a trade war in recent weeks following Trump’s imposition of tariffs amounting to 145 per cent on Chinese imported goods. In a retaliatory move, China declared 125 per cent tariff on all goods imported from the U.S. The policy went into effect on Saturday, 12 April.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelTrump, who announced a 90-day pause on the global tariff, excluded China.
READ ALSO: Trump’s Tariff Tightrope: Navigating Global Trade Uncertainty
Beijing has also ordered Chinese airlines to halt taking deliveries of Boeing aircraft produced by the U.S. company, Boeing Co.
A Bloomberg report said China wants a more consistent U.S. position and a willingness to address China’s concerns around American sanctions and Taiwan.
Beijing also wants the U.S. to appoint a point person for talks who has the president’s support and can help prepare a deal that Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping can sign when they meet.
READ ALSO: China Halts Boeing Jet Deliveries Amid Trade War With U.S.
After President Trump announced a halt to increased tariffs he had imposed on numerous other nations, a spokesman for China’s Commerce Ministry said Thursday that Beijing hoped the U.S. would strive to de-escalate the trade battle between the two biggest economies in the world.
“China’s position is clear and consistent: the door to talks is open, but dialogue must be conducted on an equal basis with mutual respect,” Commerce Ministry spokeswoman He Yongqian said.
“China will stand by its position until the end. Pressuring, threatening, and blackmailing are not the correct ways to deal with China. We hope that the U.S. will work with China. Based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and a win-win cooperation, we will properly resolve differences through dialogue and consultation.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
