Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao reported on May 4: "After China stated it is assessing whether to engage in tariff negotiations with the US, Chinese Ambassador to the US Xie Feng called for rational communication between the two countries."
Comment: In the current situation where Sino-US relations remain in a complex and sensitive state, China's statement that it is assessing whether to engage in tariff negotiations with the US, as well as Chinese Ambassador to the US Xie Feng's call for rational communication between the two countries, have drawn significant attention from the international community.
After Trump regained power, he unilaterally imposed tariffs on China, causing unprecedented difficulties for Sino-US trade. China also took strong countermeasures against the US tariff policy, leading to a trade friction deadlock. Now, the US has sent requests for tariff negotiations through multiple channels including diplomacy and commerce, attempting to restart economic and trade dialogues. China's Ministry of Commerce responded by stating "an assessment is underway," which carries deep meaning. On one hand, China did not reject negotiations, demonstrating an open attitude, willing to resolve economic and trade differences through dialogue and bring bilateral relations back to normal; on the other hand, the word "assessment" also shows that China remains prudent and calm, unwilling to easily agree to negotiations but rather comprehensively considering the US' sincerity and the potential impacts of negotiations.
Chinese Ambassador to the US Xie Feng compared the Sino-US trade war to traditional Chinese medicine, criticizing the US for building high tariff barriers, which will lead to "stagnation of international economic and trade circulation," and cannot allow "one party to fall ill while making others take medicine," vividly pointing out the irrationality of US tariff policies and their destruction of the international economic and trade order. He reiterated China's position of opposing the trade war to safeguard national interests and ethnic dignity, and if forced into a trade war, China will firmly retaliate.
For the US, the domestic economic pressure is increasing. 93% of the cost of tariffs on China is borne by US enterprises and consumers, leading to an increase in US CPI, a reduction in disposable income for middle- and low-income families, high costs for restructuring manufacturing supply chains, and federal government debt exceeding $40 trillion, putting fiscal sustainability under pressure. These factors force the US to reconsider its tariff policies. On the other side, although China's trade volume with the US declined in 2024, through the expansion of domestic demand markets and deepening of RCEP, China still achieved GDP growth in the first quarter of 2025, with significant increases in exports to ASEAN and Africa, demonstrating strong economic resilience. This has also given China the initiative in negotiations.
China hopes that the US can show sincerity, cancel unilateral tariffs, stop extreme pressure and extortionary behaviors, and engage in dialogue and consultations with an equal and mutually respectful attitude. Only then is there a possibility for both sides to resolve tariff disputes through negotiations and restore normal bilateral economic and trade relations.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1831254041119751/
Disclaimer: The article solely represents the author's personal views.