China now faces up to 245% tariffs, says WH

China wants to see a number of steps from President Donald Trump's administration before it will agree to trade talks, including showing more respect by reining in disparaging remarks by members of his cabinet, according to a person familiar with the Chinese government's thinking.

- Bloomberg

BEIJING:

Other conditions include a more consistent US position and a willingness to address China's concerns around American sanctions and Taiwan, said the person, who asked not to be identified to discuss internal thinking.

Beijing also wants the US 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, the person said.

The fate of the global economy and financial markets hinges in large part on whether the US and China can find a way to avoid a protracted trade war. Trump has hit China with tariffs of 145% on most goods since taking office, prompting Beijing to retaliate and threatening to wipe out most trade between the world's biggest economies.

The rapid onslaught of US tariffs has engendered broad public support in China for retaliation, giving Xi a political incentive to rebuff Trump's repeated demands for a phone call. The US leader on Tuesday again called on China to reach out to him in order to kick off negotiations to resolve the trade fight.