China’s Ministry of Commerce answers question on China-U.S. talks

A reporter asked China's China’s Ministry of Commerce on the morning of May 7, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Vice Premier He Lifeng will visit Switzerland from May 9-12 and hold talks with the U.S. side during this period. Can the Ministry of Commerce introduce the background and relevant considerations for these talks?

Answer: Since the new U.S. government took office, it has adopted a series of unilateral tariff measures that are illegal and unreasonable, severely impacting China-U.S. economic and trade relations, disrupting the international economic and trade order, and posing severe challenges to global economic recovery and growth. China has taken resolute and forceful countermeasures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests. Recently, U.S. senior officials have repeatedly hinted at adjusting tariff measures and actively conveyed messages to China through various channels, expressing their hope to engage in discussions with China on issues such as tariffs. The Chinese side has carefully evaluated the U.S. messages. 

Based on full consideration of global expectations, China’s interests, and the appeals of the U.S. business community and consumers, China has decided to agree to engage with the U.S. side. As China’s lead on China-U.S. economic and trade affairs, Vice Premier He Lifeng will hold talks with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during his visit to Switzerland. China’s position has been consistent: whether through confrontation or negotiation, China’s determination to safeguard its development interests will not change, nor will its stance and goals of upholding international fairness and justice and maintaining the international economic and trade order. We will fight resolutely if provoked, and our door remains open for negotiation. Any dialogue and negotiation must be carried out on the premise of mutual respect, equal consultation, and mutual benefit. As an old Chinese saying goes, “listen to what someone says and watch what they do.”

If the U.S. wishes to resolve issues through negotiation, it must face up to the severe negative impacts of its unilateral tariff measures on itself and the world, acknowledge international economic and trade rules, fairness and justice, and the rational voices of all sectors, demonstrate sincerity in negotiations, correct its wrongdoings, and work with China to resolve mutual concerns through equal consultation.

If the U.S. says one thing but does another, or even attempts to use negotiations as a pretext to continue coercive and blackmailing tactics, China will never agree, nor will it sacrifice its principles or international fairness and justice to seek any agreement.China has noted that some economies are also negotiating with the U.S. It is important to stress that appeasement cannot bring peace, and compromise cannot earn respect. Upholding principles and fairness and justice is the correct way to safeguard one’s own interests. No matter how the international situation changes, China will unswervingly expand opening-up, uphold the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, and share development opportunities with countries around the world. 

China is willing to work with all parties to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, strengthen communication and coordination, jointly resist unilateral protectionism and hegemonic bullying, safeguard free trade and multilateralism, and promote the building of an inclusive economic globalization.

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