Trade War: US reached out to China for tariff talks, Chinese state media claims

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FILE PHOTO: An attendant walks past EU and China flags ahead of the EU-China High-level Economic Dialogue at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China June 25, 2018. REUTERS/Jason Lee/File Photo

The Trump administration has reached out to China through multiple channels seeking talks over the 145% tariffs imposed on Chinese goods, according to Yuyuan Tantian, a social media account affiliated with China’s state broadcaster CCTV.

In a post on Weibo published Thursday, the account cited anonymous sources claiming that the United States had “proactively” sought discussions with Beijing to address the tariff issue. The move comes after President Donald Trump recently singled out China for sharply increased tariffs, prompting concerns over potential economic retaliation and renewed trade tensions.

However, China’s foreign ministry has denied any such engagement. “As far as I know, there have been no consultations or negotiations between China and the US on tariffs,” spokesperson Guo Jiakun said during a press briefing on Wednesday.

Last Friday, Trump stated in a US media interview that his administration was in talks with China and claimed Chinese President Xi Jinping had called him directly — a claim that Beijing has repeatedly denied. Chinese officials have accused Washington of “misleading the public” and insist no formal talks are taking place.