"Could China Come to the Table as Trump Looks to Ease Tariffs?"

“The Chinese position on the tariff war is clear: we do not want to fight, but we are not afraid to,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun at a daily briefing in Beijing on Wednesday. “If we must fight, we will fight to the end. If we talk, our door is wide open.”

Guo emphasized that China seeks dialogue based on mutual respect and equal footing, adding, “The U.S. cannot demand a deal while applying extreme pressure. That approach will not succeed.”

Reiterating Beijing’s long-standing stance, he said there are no winners in trade wars and that such conflicts damage global economic stability.

On the same day, Chinese President Xi Jinping echoed similar sentiments, warning that trade wars “undermine the legitimate rights and interests of all countries, damage the multilateral trading system, and disrupt the world economic order,” according to state media.

The remarks came shortly after Trump acknowledged that the current 145% tariff rate on some Chinese goods was “very high” and would “come down substantially.” The president added that he was not aiming to “play hardball” and anticipated that a deal between the two countries would eventually be reached. “Ultimately, they have to make a deal, because otherwise, they won’t be able to do business in the U.S.,” he said, while clarifying that duties “won’t be zero” even after reductions.

Supporting this tone of de-escalation, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told a private event that the existing tariffs function as a de facto reciprocal embargo. He noted that while significant work remains, the focus is on ensuring fair trade rather than decoupling from China. He also pointed out a recent drop in container bookings between the two countries amid rising trade tensions.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt added that progress is being made, telling reporters, “We’re doing very well with respect to a potential trade deal with China.”