Officials from the Trump administration have reportedly reached out to their Chinese counterparts to initiate talks over steep tariffs that have disrupted global markets and strained supply chains, according to a Beijing-affiliated media outlet.
The report, published Thursday by Yuyuan Tantian, a platform linked to China’s state broadcaster CCTV, cited unnamed sources claiming that Washington is “proactively” engaging Beijing through “multiple channels” to address the ongoing tariff dispute.
Punitive U.S. tariffs—reaching as high as 145% on many Chinese goods—took effect in April, prompting Beijing to respond with retaliatory duties of up to 125% on American imports.
“From a negotiation standpoint, the U.S. is currently the more anxious party,” the outlet stated in a post on China’s Weibo platform, drawing on a mix of analysis and insider accounts. It added that the Trump administration is “facing multiple pressures,” though did not elaborate further.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that China is seeking to resume negotiations. Speaking during a NewsNation town hall on Wednesday, he said there was a “very good chance we’re going to make a deal,” but stressed it would be “on our terms” and “fair.”
Beijing, however, has publicly denied that formal talks are underway, while continuing to urge Washington to engage in dialogue that is “fair, respectful, and reciprocal.”
