China Dismisses Trump’s Trade War Concessions as Weakness

By Evans Momodu, publihsed 15:25

President Trump's offer to reduce tariffs on Chinese imports is being mocked in China and met with official mistrust. Experts say Beijing is in no rush to return to the negotiating table.

President Donald Trump’s suggestion of easing tariffs on Chinese imports has sparked ridicule in China and been dismissed by Beijing as insincere. Although global markets briefly rallied on hopes of a trade de-escalation, Chinese officials and state-backed experts see Trump's remarks as a desperate political move rather than a genuine offer.

On Tuesday, Trump declared that the steep tariffs imposed on Chinese goods would “come down substantially,” vowing to adopt a softer tone in future negotiations. He even promised not to bring up the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic — a frequent point of contention in past talks.

But Chinese officials have not taken the bait.

“He who tied the bell must untie it,” said He Yadong, a spokesperson for China’s Commerce Ministry, referencing a Chinese proverb. He emphasized that the U.S. must lift all tariffs unilaterally if it wishes to resume negotiations on equal footing.

Despite Trump’s claim that daily discussions are taking place between Chinese and American officials, China’s Foreign Ministry flatly denied any active negotiations. “These are all fake news,” said spokesperson Guo Jiakun. “To my knowledge, China and the United States have not engaged in any consultations or negotiations on the tariff issue.”

Experts within China argue that Trump is bowing to domestic economic pressures, particularly after meeting with CEOs from major U.S. retailers like Walmart, Target, and Home Depot, who expressed concern over the financial fallout from his tariff policies.

Chinese analysts believe Trump’s public overtures are meant to calm Wall Street, not Beijing. Wang Yiwei of Renmin University noted that the U.S. president is facing increased scrutiny at home, with market instability and inflation concerns mounting. “He’s saying one thing today, another tomorrow,” Wang said. “China doesn’t trust him.”

Fudan University’s Wu Xinbo agreed, stating that China is not in a hurry to negotiate and can afford to wait. “Delaying talks might actually lead to better outcomes,” he added.

While China projects strength through high-level diplomatic visits and messaging, its own economy is not immune to global slowdowns. Still, Beijing’s strategy appears to be one of strategic patience.

The Chinese public has also taken a cynical view of Trump’s apparent backpedaling. On Weibo, China’s major social media platform, the hashtag “Trump chickened out” trended with over 150 million views. Users ridiculed the tariff cuts as insufficient and symbolic of weakness.

“If reciprocal tariffs aren’t removed completely, there’s no point in negotiating,” one user commented.

A senior U.S. official told the Wall Street Journal that the administration may lower current 145% tariffs to somewhere between 50% and 65%. However, this proposal was quickly brushed aside by Chinese experts who say nothing short of full removal would restart meaningful negotiations.

With both sides digging in, a quick resolution to the trade war looks increasingly unlikely. Trump’s rhetoric may soothe investors temporarily, but Beijing’s response indicates that real progress remains a distant possibility — and that China intends to set the terms moving forward.

Source: CNN