China 'evaluating' US offer to talk tariffs; warns against 'extortion'

2/5/2025 15:54

Beijing is "evaluating" an offer from Washington to hold talks over U.S. President Donald Trump's 145% tariffs, China's Commerce Ministry said on Friday, although it warned the United States not to engage in "extortion and coercion."



Washington and Beijing have been locked in a cat-and-mouse game over tariffs, with both sides unwilling to be seen to back down in a trade war that has roiled global markets and upended supply chains.



The Commerce Ministry said the United States has approached China to seek talks over Trump's tariffs and Beijing's door was open for discussions, signalling a potential de-escalation in the trade war. The statement comes a day after a social media account linked to Chinese state media said Washington had been seeking to start talks, and a week after Trump claimed discussions were already underway, which Beijing denied.



"The U.S. has recently taken the initiative on many occasions to convey information to China through relevant parties, saying it hopes to talk with China," the statement said, adding that Beijing was "evaluating this". "Attempting to use talks as a pretext to engage in coercion and extortion would not work," it said.