China News Today: US Calls for Discussion of Trump Tariffs in Suggestion of Shift in China's Strategy

US Suggests Communication with China for Trump-Era Tariffs Review

In a significant development in china latest news, the United States is reported to have reached out to Beijing to negotiate the possible reconsideration of Donald Trump's 145% tariffs. The contact, first reported by a Chinese state-run social media account, would be the first indication of Washington altering the manner in which it is handling the ongoing trade war.

The Weibo post Yuyuan Tantian, renowned for being close to Chinese officials, stated that "the US has actively extended overtures to China through various channels, hoping to negotiate the issue of tariffs."

Early Diplomatic Signs and Internal Dialogue

Confirming the developments, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said that informal discussions have taken place. Hassett said in a CNBC interview that China's recent action to reduce tariffs on some US goods can be interpreted as a positive sign—another development making waves in china latest news.

Though still unofficial, the signals from both sides are that each is willing to re-engage, but only to de-escalate tensions.

China's Mixed Response: Public Toughness, Private Flexibility

Publicly, China has still maintained its vitriolic tone, denouncing the Trump tariffs as economic aggression. Behind doors, however, China has moderated its position subtly. For instance, certain American goods—medicine, microchips, and jet engines—have been left out of China's retaliatory 125% tariffs. All these moves are core in china latest news analysis.

Preconditions to Formal Talks

Bessent emphasized in a Fox Business interview that before negotiations can formally commence, both countries must de-escalate tensions. "We have to start by lowering the temperature. Only then can we work on crafting a more broad-based trade agreement," he said—echoing a sentiment that's been making the rounds in china latest news.

One of the main areas of concentration will be going back to the broken commitments of the 2020 "Phase 1" trade agreement. In the terms of that pact, China agreed to boost its US goods purchase by $200 billion, a commitment that was broken by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Structural Issues at the Heart of the Conflict

Aside from tariffs, structural problems persist as a flashpoint. Bessent mentioned China's invocation of non-tariff obstacles, state-backed subsidies, and the supposed hijacking of intellectual property as points of contention central to his demands. He underlined that those need to be solved in a substantive trade accord—an issue perpetually dominating china latest news headlines.

China's Economic Stakes and Strategic Silence

While the US has domestic sectors that put pressure on it, China stands to lose more with the quantity of its exports. Bessent documented that China ships nearly five times more to the US than it imports, placing tremendous pressure on Chinese exporters—especially during the approach towards the holiday season. Most china latest news outlets point to increasing apprehension among Chinese producers as US tariffs begin to bite.

Despite this, Beijing has shown circumspection as the country's leadership. Official from foreign ministries have called approving American ultimatums as "drinking poison" that said China is ready to enter into talks only on the condition of equal respect and reciprocity.

Subtle Hints of Openness

But Yuyuan Tantian offered a balanced comment that has been under the spotlight among commentators: "If the US wants to make contact, there is no harm at this point for China to reciprocate." The comment has been widely quoted in china latest news outlets as an indirect signal of Beijing's possible readiness to talk.

Conflicting Claims Add to Uncertainty

Adding to the uncertainty, ex-President Donald Trump had recently announced that Chinese President Xi Jinping had called him personally to discuss tariff negotiations. China denied the claims, adding uncertainty and triggering new controversy in china latest news feeds.

Official Position from Beijing

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun verified that up to now, there have not been any official negotiations or formal consultations between the two governments. However, Guo emphasized that China is still open to fair dialogue—another hot issue in china latest news this week.

Shifting Media Tone as an Indicator

While not quite so formal a channel, Yuyuan Tantian is often thought of as a portent of policy shift in China's story. More institutionalized media arms like The Global Times follow suit afterwards when a message goes official, something china latest news audiences closely watch out for.

What Lies Ahead?

With both superpowers suffering from economic troubles, the possibilities of a breakthrough—albeit piecemeal—cannot be ruled out. Both parties are believed to have strategic interests in negotiating. For now, china latest news reports that there is a tentative minuet of diplomacy underway.

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