Saturday 19 / April / 2025
China on Wednesday said it was ready to negotiate, but would not back down in a trade war with the US.
The comments from the Chinese Foreign Ministry come a day after Donald Trump said "the ball is in China's court" as Washington looks to pressure Beijing into negotiating a trade deal.
"If the US really wants to resolve the issue through dialogue and negotiation, it should stop exerting extreme pressure, stop threatening and blackmailing, and talk to China on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.
"This tariff war was initiated by the US side... China does not want a fight, but it is not afraid of one either," Lin added during a daily press conference.
'Little comfort' in US tariff reprieve: Singapore PM
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Wednesday that there is "little comfort" in the US postponing sweeping tariffs on most of the world.
After initially imposing so-called "reciprocal" tariffs on most of the US' trading partners, US President Donald Trump abruptly reversed course last week, announcing a 90-day pause.
However, "baseline" tariffs of 10% on most imports, as well as 25% tariffs on car, steel and aluminum imports, have remained in place.
In a speech at an event organised by the city-state's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wong said "geopolitical competition," which had largely been dormant since the end of the Cold War, had "returned with a vengeance" and that "major powers no longer feel economically secure" amid the escalating trade war between the US and China.
"Where economic interdependence was once seen as a virtue, it is now seen as a vulnerability," Wong said.
Trump to attend talks with Japan trade envoy
US President Donald Trump said he will take part in a meeting on Wednesday with a senior trade envoy from Japan for tariff negotiations.
Japanese Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa is making a three-day visit to Washington this week.
Akazawa is also due to meet the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer at the White House on Wednesday.
"Japan is coming in today to negotiate Tariffs, the cost of military support, and 'TRADE FAIRNESS.' I will attend the meeting, along with treayury and commerce secretaries," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
"Hopefully something can be worked out which is good (GREAT!) for Japan and the USA!" the US president added.
In 2023, Japan was the largest foreign investor in the US. Since 1990, direct investment in the US economy from Japan has totaled $783.3 billion (€689 billion) — more than Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Those investments, however, did not stop Trump from targeting Japanese imports with his "reciprocal" tariffs.
Although a 24% levy on Japanese imports was included in Trump's 90-day tariff pause, Japan is still facing a blanket 10% tariff on all goods. Tokyo is also subject to the US president's 25% tariff on specifically for car, steel and aluminum imports.
https://p.dw.com/p/4tChk
