China warns against extortion in proposed US tariff talks

BEIJING

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BEIJING is “evaluating” an offer from Washington to hold talks over US President Donald Trump’s 145% tariffs, China’s Commerce Ministry said yesterday, although it warned the US 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 US had 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 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 under way, which Beijing denied.