The Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) Photo: VCG

In response to a question asking whether China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has any further information and comments as the US has repeatedly said that it is negotiating with the Chinese side on economic and trade issues and will reach an agreement, a spokesperson from the MOFCOM said on Friday that China has taken note of the repeated statements made by the US side at a high level that it is willing to negotiate with China on the issue of tariffs. At the same time, the US has recently taken the initiative to convey information to the Chinese side on a number of occasions through relevant parties, hoping to talk with the Chinese side. In this regard, the Chinese side is making an assessment.

The spokesperson said that China's position is consistent: We will fight, if fight we must. Our doors are open, if the US wants to talk. The tariff and trade wars were unilaterally initiated by the US, and if the US side wants to talk, it should show its sincerity, and be ready to take action on issues such as correcting wrong practices and canceling the unilateral imposition of tariffs.

We have noted that the US has recently continued to release information on the adjustment of tariff measures. China would like to emphasize that, in any possible dialogue or talks, if the US side does not rectify its erroneous unilateral tariff measures, it will show that the US is totally insincere and will further undermine mutual trust between the two sides. Saying one thing but doing another, or even attempting to engage in coercion and blackmail under the guise of talks, will not work on the Chinese side, the spokesperson noted.

Global Times