Space Travel News
TRADE WARS
Beijing says claims of ongoing US-China trade talks 'groundless'
Beijing says claims of ongoing US-China trade talks 'groundless'
By Peter CATTERALL
Beijing (AFP) April 24, 2025

Beijing said on Thursday any claims of ongoing trade talks with Washington were "groundless" after US President Donald Trump played up the prospects of a deal to lower hefty tariffs he imposed on China.

The world's two leading economies are locked in an escalating tit-for-tat trade battle triggered by Trump's new levies on Chinese goods, which have reached 145 percent on many products.

Beijing has responded with new 125 percent duties on imports from the United States.

The tariff blitz -- which Trump says is retaliation for unfair trade practices, as well as a bid to restore US manufacturing prowess -- has rattled markets and raised fears of a global recession.

Beijing denied Trump's claim that negotiations were being conducted daily.

"As the competent department for foreign economic and trade relations, I would like to emphasise that there are currently no economic and trade negotiations between China and the United States," Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesman He Yadong told a news conference.

"Any claims about the progress of China-US economic and trade negotiations are groundless and have no factual basis," He said.

"China urges the United States to correct its wrong practices, show the sincerity needed for talks (and) return to the correct track of equal dialogue and consultation."

Trump told reporters on Wednesday that his country would have a "fair deal with China", adding when asked if Washington was talking to Beijing that "everything's active".

Asked if there is direct US contact with China on trade, Trump said: "Every day."

China's foreign ministry also responded to the claims on Thursday, calling reports of ongoing negotiations "false".

"As far as I know, China and the United States have not conducted any consultations or negotiations on the issue of tariffs, let alone reached any agreement," foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a daily news conference.

Beijing's denial of ongoing negotiations coincides with comments made Wednesday by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who told reporters that the two countries were "not yet" talking on an agreement to lower tariffs.

"I think both sides are waiting to speak to the other," he said at an event on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank's spring meetings in Washington.

The IMF this week revised down its forecast for global growth, citing an increasingly uncertain economic outlook in which "downside risks dominate".

It also significantly lowered its forecast for China's economic expansion this year to four percent -- well below Beijing's official target of around five percent.

Chinese exports last year reached record highs, but experts say that strong turbulence to global trade brought about by US tariffs may force Beijing to depend on other sources of activity to meet its goals.

Related Links
Global Trade News

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
TRADE WARS
China slams 'appeasement' of US as nations rush to secure trade deals
Beijing (AFP) April 21, 2025
China on Monday hit out at other countries making trade deals with the United States at Beijing's expense, vowing countermeasures against those who "appease" Washington in the blistering tariff war as its neighbours rush to secure favourable terms from the White House. While the rest of the world has been hit with a blanket 10 percent tariff, China faces levies of up to 145 percent on many products. Beijing has responded with duties of 125 percent on US goods. Parallel to Washington's full trade ... read more

TRADE WARS
TRADE WARS
Just Keep Driving - Sols 4507-4508

NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover Studies Trove of Rocks on Crater Rim

Molten core may hold key to Mars' uneven magnetic past

A step closer to Martian habitability as lichens endure simulated surface conditions

TRADE WARS
Drier far side of the Moon deepens understanding of lunar evolution

Chinese study reveals lower water content in lunar farside mantle

Redwire and ispace-US forge partnership to pursue lunar mission contracts

Differences in lunar space weathering revealed by farside samples

TRADE WARS
On Jupiter, it's mushballs all the way down

20 years of Hubble data reveals evolving weather patterns on Uranus

NASA's Hubble Telescope May Have Uncovered a Triple System in the Kuiper Belt

NASA's Europa Clipper Leverages Mars for Critical Gravity Assist

TRADE WARS
How alien energy patterns may reveal extraterrestrial life

Scientists uncover why carbon-rich space rocks rarely reach Earth

In the quest for alien life, even empty results hold value

SwRI study reveals exotic chemistry of superheated sub-Neptune TOI-270 dwar

TRADE WARS
Putin praises Musk, compares him to Soviet space hero

Rocket Lab tapped for major defense contracts to advance hypersonic testing

Outpost awarded contract to develop reentry shield tech for space-based cargo delivery

NASA adds critical stage adapter to Artemis II Moon rocket

TRADE WARS
Microbial profile mapped aboard China space station

China highlights major strides in moon research and exploration

Space station advances muscle and semiconductor science

China logs 15th orbital mission with launch of Tianlian II-04

TRADE WARS
Astronomers identify rare Earth-crossing asteroid from unexpected source

How NASA Science Data Defends Earth from Asteroids

NASA's Lucy Spacecraft Prepares Second Asteroid Encounter

NASA Webb Telescope Sizes Up Small Asteroid with Big Implications

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.