China announced Friday that it is evaluating outreach from U.S. officials about initiating negotiations on tariffs, signaling a possible thaw in the ongoing trade war and raising hopes for formal discussions in the near future.
“If we fight, we will fight to the end; if we talk, the door is open,” China’s commerce ministry stated. “The tariff war and trade war were unilaterally initiated by the United States. If the United States wants to talk, it should show its sincerity and be prepared to correct its wrong practices and cancel the unilateral tariffs.”
In a strategic move to ease tensions without making public concessions, China has reportedly been expanding a list of U.S. goods exempt from its 125% tariffs. The list includes waivers for U.S. ethane, select semiconductor products, and certain pharmaceuticals — all offering economic relief while China maintains a firm diplomatic posture.
Despite President Donald Trump defending the U.S.’s 145% tariffs on Chinese imports — saying China “deserves it” and would likely absorb the costs — internal efforts are underway within his administration to explore phased tariff reductions and reignite trade discussions.
In a move to support the domestic auto industry, President Trump signed an executive order this week exempting certain cars and auto parts from new tariffs. The order clarifies that companies already paying levies on imported vehicles will not face additional charges on materials like steel. However, tariffs on auto parts are scheduled to take effect Saturday, May 3, leaving many manufacturers still subject to some form of duty.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, addressing reporters Tuesday, highlighted ongoing global trade efforts, stating that the U.S. and an unnamed country were nearing a trade agreement. Separately, Bessent said the U.S. was “very close” to finalizing a deal with India.
In a sign of continued global trade activity, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to visit the White House next week. The visit comes shortly after Carney’s electoral win, during which he prominently criticized Trump, setting the stage for potentially tense — but important — trade discussions.
