China's Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yongqian Photo: Yin Yeping/GT

China and the US have maintained ongoing communication at various levels through the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Thursday, in response to a question about the upcoming sixth round of China-US economic and trade consultations.

When questioned on when the consultations would take place and whether more details could be provided, spokesperson He Yongqian added that "the Chinese side stands ready to work with the US side to jointly implement and uphold the consensus reached by the two heads of state at their meeting in Busan and during their February 4 phone call, and through consultations on an equal footing, properly manage differences, expand practical cooperation, and safeguard the healthy, stable and sustainable development of China-US economic and trade relations, so as to better benefit both countries and the world," she added.

Since last year, China and the US have conducted five rounds of economic and trade consultations, with the latest round taking place in Malaysia in late October, which helped inject more certainty and stability into China-US economic and trade cooperation as well as the world economy, as previously described by the MOFCOM.

The two sides have reached multiple important areas of consensus during the last five rounds of talks on key issues, including extending the suspension period for reciprocal tariffs, agricultural trade, export controls, and reducing investment restrictions.

Gao Lingyun, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Thursday that the upcoming talks show that the consultation mechanism is still running effectively, highlighting the overall relative stability in bilateral trade relations and further offering clear proof that pragmatic cooperation through dialogue and negotiation between the two sides is both realistic and achievable.

The expert said that US tariffs and Washington's various restrictions on China's high-tech sector will remain core concerns for the Chinese side during the upcoming sixth round of consultations. "The talks are expected to focus on refining and potentially extending the short-term agreements reached in previous rounds, while also exploring new avenues for practical cooperation," he added.

The expectations come after the US Supreme Court issued a ruling last Friday striking down wide-ranging tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). 

In early February and early April 2025, the US, under the IEEPA, successively imposed a 10 percent so-called fentanyl tariff and a 34 percent reciprocal tariff on Chinese goods. Of these, the 24 percent reciprocal tariff has been suspended, making the actual tariff rate on Chinese goods 20 percent, according to the MOFCOM on Tuesday.

According to the US Supreme Court's ruling, the US has suspended the above-mentioned tariffs, but at the same time it has imposed a 10 percent import surcharge under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act.

Meanwhile, the US has repeatedly stated that it will continue using trade investigations - such as those under Section 301 (unfair trade practices) and Section 232 (national security) - to impose or maintain tariffs. 

A MOFCOM spokesperson said on Tuesday, in response to these new developments, that China is closely following and will fully assess the relevant measures taken by the US, and will subsequently decide on the adjustment of countermeasures against the original US fentanyl tariffs and reciprocal tariffs at an appropriate time in light of the situation. "China reserves the right to take all necessary measures and firmly defends its legitimate rights and interests," the spokesperson added.

Gao pointed out that while the US pursues stability in China-US relations, its hegemonic mindset continues to fuel ongoing pressure on China, especially in critical sectors. "Washington must acknowledge the mutual and global benefits of China-US economic cooperation and demonstrate this through concrete actions in the upcoming talks to genuinely advance stable and normal bilateral relations," he emphasized.