US ‘wholly responsible’ for lack of new trade war talks with China due to ‘contradictory’ statements
- China’s Ministry of Commerce spokesman Gao Feng also questions the ‘sincerity’ of the United States after talks broke down at the start of May
- US President Donald Trump said this week that the US ‘wasn’t ready’ to make a deal with China during a state visit to Japan
Contradictory statements by officials mean “the responsibility is wholly on the US side” for there being no agreement with China to resume talks to end the trade war, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.
“The US messages lately have been contradictory,” said ministry spokesman Gao Feng during a regular press briefing in response to a question on whether China was ready to make a deal.
“For a while, it was close to reaching a deal with China, and for a while, it wasn’t ready to reach a deal with China. As such, it raises doubt over its sincerity.
“The US has been escalating the trade dispute, with it spilling over other areas. These wrong actions have damaged the foundation for negotiations. The responsibility is wholly on the US side.”
The US has been escalating the trade dispute, with it spilling over other areas. These wrong actions have damaged the foundation for negotiations.
Gao repeated China’s stance that it would not back down on “matters of principle” and that trade talks can only continue on the “basis of equality” and “mutual respect”.
US President Donald Trump said this week that the US “wasn’t ready” to make a deal with China during a state visit to Japan.