There is an ongoing dispute between China and the United States over whether they have engaged in negotiations regarding tariffs. China has repeatedly denied any such discussions, while the U.S. has consistently affirmed that they have taken place.
1. Statements by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)
On April 24, a reporter asked:
“Recently, there have been frequent reports from the U.S. claiming that China and the U.S. are negotiating and might even reach an agreement. Can you confirm whether negotiations have started?”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun responded:
“These are all false reports. As far as I know, China and the U.S. have not engaged in consultations or negotiations on the tariff issue, let alone reached any agreement.”
On April 25, a Reuters reporter asked:
“The U.S. says trade talks are ongoing between the U.S. and China. A White House official stated that low-level officials held meetings and calls this week. Is the U.S. trying to engage with China? If so, is China willing to hold trade talks?”
Guo Jiakun responded:
“Yesterday, both I and my colleagues at the Ministry of Commerce clearly addressed this issue. There have been no consultations or negotiations between China and the U.S. on the tariff matter. The U.S. should not mislead the public.”
Also on April 24, Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yadong stated at a press conference:
“Currently, there are no ongoing economic and trade negotiations between China and the U.S. Any reports about progress in such negotiations are pure speculation without factual basis.”
On April 25, the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. posted a Question and Answer (Q&A):
Question: “Recently, the U.S. has repeatedly expressed its willingness to reach a tariff agreement with China and claimed that dialogue has taken place. What is China’s response?”
Answer: “Such statements are purely misleading. As far as I know, China and the U.S. have not engaged in consultations or negotiations on the tariff issue, let alone reached an agreement.”
In short, thus far, the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Commerce, and the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. have all consistently stated: China has not held any negotiations with the U.S. on tariffs.
2. Statements from the U.S. Government
On April 22, 23, and 24, President Donald Trump repeatedly told reporters that the U.S. is actively negotiating with China to reach a “fair agreement.”
On April 25, in an interview with Time magazine, Trump revealed that he had received a direct call from Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump said:
“He’s called. And I don’t think that’s a sign of weakness on his behalf.”
Trump emphasized that had Xi not made the first move, he himself would not have initiated contact.
3. Supporting Evidence from South Korea
On April 25, South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo reported that around 7 a.m. Eastern Time on April 24, a senior official from China’s Ministry of Finance, accompanied by about 10 staff members, entered the U.S. Treasury headquarters near the White House.
Although the official’s identity was not disclosed, the report included a photo of the Chinese official with the face blurred for anonymity.
Source: Epoch Times, April 26, 2025
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/25/4/26/n14492622.htm