Who will take the first step on tariffs, China or the United States?
On Friday, May 2, Beijing announced that Washington had "expressed a desire to begin talks" on tariffs, and that the Chinese government was studying the issue. It also reaffirmed its position: no negotiations can begin until Donald Trump lifts his tariffs on imported Chinese goods.
Are Beijing and Washington finally ready to discuss tariffs? Markets seem to want to believe it, as they displayed a certain optimism in Asia, Europe, and the United States on Friday, May 2.
The source of what is currently only hope: a rather cryptic statement from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce earlier in the day, seen as encouraging by some.
“China has noted repeated statements by senior US officials expressing willingness to negotiate with China on tariff issues ,” a ministry spokesperson was quoted as saying by the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong. “ Meanwhile, the US has recently taken the initiative to convey messages to China through appropriate channels, expressing its desire to start talks. China is currently evaluating this issue.”
So there seems to be contact between the two countries, and that is enough to fuel the optimism of some observers. Because for the rest, there is nothing new. China's position has not changed, if we are to believe the words of the same spokesperson, reported by The Wall Street Journal , in New York
Courrier International
