In brief
In a rising trade conflict, China has denied U.S. claims of negotiation prospects, emphasizing a strong position against President Trump’s administration.
China is pushing back firmly against assertions from the Trump administration indicating that trade negotiations are ongoing. On April 25, 2025, the Chinese Foreign Ministry took to social media platform X to declare, “China and the U.S. are NOT having any consultation or negotiation. The U.S. should stop creating confusion.” The strong refutation comes after U.S. officials claimed that a trade deal might soon be reached, creating a stark contrast in narratives. Guo Jiakun, a spokesman for the ministry, labeled the U.S. government’s claims as misleading, and previously referred to negotiation rumors as “fake news.” These developments signal that China’s leader, Xi Jinping, is adopting a firm stance against the Trump administration, believing that the ramifications of the trade war will hit the U.S. harder due to internal political pressures and fluctuations in its financial markets, according to analysts. Yun Sun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center in Washington, noted, “The Chinese are not eager to climb down the ladder,” suggesting that they perceive Trump as the one under pressure to make concessions. Sun added that Beijing's participation in any negotiations is contingent upon the U.S. making favorable gestures or concessions, such as reducing tariffs or Trump initiating communication with Xi first. As the trade war continues, both nations appear entrenched in their positions, with each waiting for the other to make the first significant move to de-escalate tensions.
