China Presses Trump to Scrap Tariffs Amid Rising Tensions
Amid escalating trade tensions, China has intensified its demand that the United States fully eliminate its "reciprocal tariffs" — a move Beijing describes as both unjust and harmful to global economic stability.
In a strongly worded statement this week, China’s Ministry of Commerce urged U.S. President Donald Trump to “completely cancel the wrongful action of reciprocal tariffs” and return to a path of mutual respect and equal dialogue.
"We urge the US to take a big step to correct its mistakes, completely cancel the wrong practice of 'reciprocal tariffs' and return to the right path of mutual respect"
Tariff Rollercoaster: Temporary Relief, Long-Term Uncertainty
President Trump announced a 90-day pause on some global tariffs earlier this week, including a high-profile exemption for tech products — smartphones, computers, semiconductors, and solar cells among them. These products, many of which are Chinese-made, were initially subject to a 145% tariff.
However, comments attributed to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick — an inconsistency, as Lutnick is not a known government official but rather the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald — suggested the exemptions would be only temporary, with a new “semiconductor tariff” under consideration.
“We need to have these things made in America,” Lutnick reportedly said during a Sunday interview with ABC News.
The Chinese response to the exemptions was measured. The Ministry described it as a “small step”, while also confirming that Beijing is evaluating the broader implications.
Tensions Remain Despite Pause
Despite recent gestures, tensions between the two economic giants are far from resolved.
Trump first introduced a 54% tariff on Chinese goods in early April — a figure that rapidly increased to the current 145% rate. In retaliation, China has imposed escalating tariffs on U.S. imports, rising from 34% to 125%, effective last Saturday.
Chinese media and social platforms are portraying the exemptions as a strategic retreat by the U.S. The hashtag “Trump administration retreats again” surged to #2 on Weibo, China’s largest social media platform.
Meanwhile, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer confirmed on CBS's Face the Nation that no talks are currently planned between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, despite the gravity of the situation.
