BEIJING, April 24 — Beijing said on Thursday any claims of ongoing trade talks with Washington were “groundless” after US President Donald Trump played up the prospects of a deal to lower hefty tariffs he imposed on China.
The world’s two leading economies are locked in an escalating tit-for-tat trade battle triggered by Trump’s new levies on Chinese goods, which have reached 145 per cent on many products.
Beijing has responded with new 125 per cent duties on imports from the United States.
The tariff blitz — which Trump says is retaliation for unfair trade practices, as well as a bid to restore US manufacturing prowess — has rattled markets and raised fears of a global recession.
Beijing denied Trump’s claim that negotiations were being conducted daily.
“As the competent department for foreign economic and trade relations, I would like to emphasise that there are currently no economic and trade negotiations between China and the United States,” Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesman He Yadong told a news conference.
“Any claims about the progress of China-US economic and trade negotiations are groundless and have no factual basis,” He said.
“China urges the United States to correct its wrong practices, show the sincerity needed for talks (and) return to the correct track of equal dialogue and consultation.”
Trump told reporters on Wednesday that his country would have a “fair deal with China”, adding when asked if Washington was talking to Beijing that “everything’s active”.
Asked if there is direct US contact with China on trade, Trump said: “Every day.” — AFP
