Beijing signals openness for trade talks with Washington - FT
Photo: China softens stance on trade talks with the US (Getty Images)
In China, they claim that there will be "no harm" in trade negotiations with the USA. This indicates a softening of Beijing’s position, as both sides seek a way out of the tariff war, according to the Financial Times.
Chinese social network Weibo reported that a user under the nickname Yuyuan Tantian, connected with the state broadcaster CCTV, wrote that Beijing does not need to talk to the USA until Washington takes significant steps. However, according to him, if the USA wants to interact with China, then “there is nothing wrong with that.”
The user also refers to sources who claim that officials from the USA actively reached out to China, asking for negotiations on tariffs.
“If it is talks, the door is wide open. If it is a fight, we’ll see it through to the end,” – the post states.
Analysts believe that such wording reflects a softening of Beijing’s stance. Andrew Polk, co-founder of the consulting group Trivium China, noted that the post appeared to lay the groundwork for entering negotiations and suggested it would likely appeal to the domestic audience and provide political cover for initiating talks.
At the same time, a research fellow at the Center for China and Globalization in Beijing, Qichen Wang, believes that such a post indicates that China is ready for trade negotiations.
According to him, this method of signaling through social media accounts is new; however, Beijing also employed it during the first trade war with the USA.
US-China tariff war
On April 2, US President Donald Trump initiated a trade war by imposing tariffs on all goods from China at a rate of 54%. Since then, Beijing has responded symmetrically, promising to go to the end.
Later, Trump raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%, and Beijing raised tariffs on American goods to 125%.
Recently, Trump stated that tariffs on Chinese goods “will be significantly reduced” but will not be canceled entirely.
Trump also noted that a trade agreement with China could be reached, “but it will be fair.” For now, both sides are seeking ways to mitigate the consequences of the conflict – each on its own terms.
