By Kabiru Abdulrauf.
Trade tensions between the United States and China have flared once again, with both sides digging in their heels over who should take the first step toward renewed negotiations.
On Thursday, China’s commerce ministry publicly called on Washington to halt what it described as “extreme pressure, coercion, and blackmail,” demanding that any future trade talks be grounded in mutual respect and equality. The ministry emphasized that China would not bow to what it called “irrational” tariff hikes, warning it would “fight to the end” if its interests continued to be threatened.
The latest standoff comes after the White House, under President Donald Trump, released a fact sheet stating that some Chinese imports now face tariffs as high as 245%. Trump has indicated openness to a new trade deal but insists that Beijing must initiate the talks, declaring “the ball is in China’s court.”
China, however, has taken a defiant stance. “The unilateral tariff increases were entirely initiated by the United States,” commerce ministry spokesperson He Yongqian said at a weekly news conference. “Unlike others who seek deals, China will not enter talks under pressure.”
Despite the tough rhetoric, He noted that working-level communication continues between both sides, and China remains open to economic and trade consultations—provided they are conducted on equal footing.
As the world watches the two economic giants spar, the outcome of this deadlock could have significant ripple effects on global trade, supply chains, and market stability. For now, a thaw in US-China trade relations appears distant, with neither side willing to blink first.
