US Reaches Out to China as Donald Trump Seeks Tariff Negotiations: Report

The US through Donald Trump has contacted China through several channels to restart tariff talks amid economic strain and shrinking trade activity.
US China Trade War Talks Set To Continue On May 11

Highlights

  • US contacted China via multiple channels to restart stalled tariff talks.
  • China sees US as more eager, awaiting “meaningful” policy shifts.
  • US economy shrank in Q1 2025, raising urgency for trade negotiations.

The United States through US President Donald Trump has contacted China through several diplomatic channels in an effort to begin tariff negotiations, according to a report from Chinese state-affiliated media. The outreach signals a new attempt by the US administration to reopen trade discussions amid ongoing economic challenges and strained relations.

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Multiple US Efforts to Initiate Contact with China

According to Yuyuantantian, a Weibo account linked to China Central Television (CCTV), the United States has reached out to China in recent weeks. The account cited unnamed sources familiar with the matter but did not provide detailed information on the nature of the communications or the officials involved.

The report suggests that the US President Donald Trump has used multiple communication lines to initiate talks over the wide-ranging tariffs it previously imposed on Chinese goods.

These tariffs have remained a central issue in the ongoing trade dispute between the two nations. Officials in Washington have not yet confirmed the details of the reported outreach, but related statements from US leaders suggest active interest in restarting discussions.

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Donald Trump Administration Signals Desire for Talks

President Donald Trump has not stopped stressing the need to work with China on trade. While discussing it at the Cabinet meeting, Trump mentioned some figures suggesting that cargo turnover between the two countries declined recently. He opined that this could force Beijing to come to the negotiating table.

During the meeting, the president asserted, “We want China to do well, but we also want to be treated fairly.” He also stated that he would like to directly address Chinese President Xi Jinping in the future but did not state when this is likely to happen.

On Tuesday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Beijing needs to make the first move to de-escalate the tensions in the trade field. He said this in response to Trump’s remark that if China wants peace, then it has to turn to the US to make the first move.

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Chinese Media Describes US as the Eager Party

In its report, Yuyuantantian noted that China sees the United States as the more eager party at the moment. The post stated that China will continue to observe developments and wait for the US to show “meaningful measures” before entering formal discussions.

The report also referred to economic and political pressure facing the Trump administration, including the recent contraction of the US economy. Government data confirmed that the economy shrank during the first quarter of the year, marking the first decline since 2022. Economists believe that slowing consumer demand and a sharp increase in imports before new tariffs were implemented contributed to the downturn.

Chinese analysts cited by local media stated that Beijing does not currently feel the need to respond unless there is evidence of real change in US policy. These comments suggest that any new dialogue will depend on clear moves by Donald Trump.

Economic Pressure Builds in Washington

According to the most recent statistics, consumer spending in the US has gone down and trade is also experiencing a slump. This has stirred some uneasiness and maybe contributing to this revived effort towards negotiation with the Chinese. If this easing remains, analysts predict a massive recovery in the crypto market due to positive sentiment among traders.

The White House is also trying to implement new approaches for the regulation of trade. One of the recommendations is the utilization of funds from the tariffs to purchase digital currencies like Bitcoin. However, being still in the discussion stage this plan has drawn attention among the market analysts and policy makers

At present, there is no confirmed meeting scheduled between US and Chinese officials. However, both sides appear to be watching each other closely, as the global trade environment remains uncertain.

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Kelvin Munene Murithi
Kelvin Munene is a crypto and finance journalist with over 5 years of experience, offering in-depth market analysis and expert commentary . With a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Actuarial Science from Mount Kenya University, Kelvin is known for his meticulous research and strong writing skills, particularly in cryptocurrency, blockchain, and financial markets. His work has been featured across top industry publications such as Coingape, Cryptobasic, MetaNews, Cryptotimes, Coinedition, TheCoinrepublic, Cryptotale, and Analytics Insight among others, where he consistently provides timely updates and insightful content. Kelvin’s focus lies in uncovering emerging trends in the crypto space, delivering factual and data-driven analyses that help readers make informed decisions. His expertise extends across market cycles, technological innovations, and regulatory shifts that shape the crypto landscape. Beyond his professional achievements, Kelvin has a passion for chess, traveling, and exploring new adventures.
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