China Urges US to End ‘Threats and Coercion’ for Constructive Tariff Negotiations

China stated on Wednesday that the United States must stop “threatening” and “coercing” Beijing if it truly seeks to resolve the ongoing tariff dispute through negotiations. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun emphasized that discussions must be based on “equality, mutual respect, and reciprocity,” responding to comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump about potentially reducing tariffs, which currently reach as high as 145% on Chinese goods.

Guo criticized Washington’s approach, stating that applying maximum pressure while calling for dialogue is ineffective. Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the current situation as resembling a trade embargo, while clarifying that Washington’s goal is not to “decouple” from China. He expressed hope that a comprehensive agreement could be achieved within two to three years.

Earlier this month, President Trump announced a 90-day suspension of reciprocal tariffs on imports from many countries, notably excluding China. Despite this pause for others, the Trump administration has intensified trade measures against Beijing, with Trump warning that tariffs on Chinese exports could climb even higher to 245%.