China announced on Friday that it evaluated a proposal for negotiations from the United States about customs duties applied by both parties on their goods.
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“The United States has recently taken the initiative many times to transmit information to China (…), saying that they (hoped) discuss with China,” the Ministry of Commerce told Beijing.
“China is evaluating this,” added the press release.
Washington has imposed a surcharge of 145 % on many Chinese products since April. Beijing reacted by drawing customs duties of 125 % on goods imported from the United States.
US President Donald Trump, who returned to business in January and attached to his protectionist policy, has suggested that China had contacted the United States to conduct discussions on customs duties. Affirmations firmly denied by Beijing.
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Donald Trump said on Wednesday that there is a “chances” that Beijing and Washington come to an agreement.
China says it is regularly open to dialogue, but on the basis of “mutual respect”, and said it was ready to fight “to the end” if necessary.
“If the United States wants to discuss, it must show its sincerity to do so, be ready to correct its bad practices and cancel unilateral customs duties, and act,” the Chinese trade ministry said on Friday.
And to add: “If the American part does not correct its unilateral and bad customs duties, this means that the American part is completely hypocritical and will harm more about mutual confidence between the two parties”.
