China reiterates US should cancel tariffs ahead of trade talks

Both sides are outlining strong stances to maximize their negotiating positions ahead of their first trade talks this weekend in Switzerland

Beijing reiterated its call for the US to cancel unilateral tariffs on China, underscoring a standoff between the world’s largest economies as they prepare for initial trade talks.

The US should be prepared to revoke punitive tariffs placed on China, Commerce Ministry spokesman He Yadong said at a regular press briefing Thursday. The US “needs to show sincerity to talk and be prepared to rectify its wrongdoing and cancel unilateral tariffs,” he said.

His reiteration of the Chinese stance came hours after President Donald Trump said he was unwilling to lower levies on China — currently at 145% for most goods — in order to unlock more substantive negotiations with Beijing on trade.

Both sides are outlining strong stances to maximize their negotiating positions ahead of their first trade talks this weekend in Switzerland. Those meetings will see Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer sit down with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.

Before talks were announced, Trump had said he was willing to lower tariffs on China at some point.

The clash underlines the massive divide between the US and China on trade and the difficult path they face to a possible agreement on lower tariff levels. The announcement of formal talks, however, has generated some optimism the spat could be resolved before it causes lasting economic damage.

Both countries are under pressure to reach a deal. The US economy contracted at the start of the year for the first time since 2022 on a pre-tariffs import surge and more moderate consumer spending. In China, factory activity slipped into the worst contraction since December 2023, the official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index showed.

“In principle, China’s resolve to safeguard its rights and interests will not change,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a separate briefing Thursday. “Our position and objective to uphold international fairness and justice will not change.”