China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang has declined claims by US President Donald Trump that the two countries had made a deal to stop the trade war. During a Press Conference, Lu Kang mentioned that he is not aware of the deal that the US is talking about.
Lu Kang received a question saying that on May 17, US President Trump said that the two sides actually had a deal, but China broke it.
Commenting on this claim, Mr. Kang responded:
I am not sure what “deal” the US side was referring to. Perhaps it has bore in mind all along “a deal” of its own wildwish, one that China has certainly not agreed on however
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He added that the underlying reason that the 11 rounds of consultations have not managed to conclude on an agreement is that the US attempts to achieve unreasonable demands through maximum pressure.
He explains that this tactic would not work, while threats led to widespread doubts and market fluctuations at home and abroad, with the US ‘muddying the waters and shifting the blame.’
However, he reiterated that there is hope for success, but only when the consultations proceed on the right track of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.
The United States had previously activated a new 25% duty on more than 5,700 categories of products from China, even as top Chinese and U.S. negotiators resumed trade talks in Washington.
Trump had ordered the new tariffs, saying China “broke the deal” by reneging on earlier commitments made during months of negotiations. China has denied the allegations.
Trump last week also ordered U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to begin imposing tariffs on all remaining Chinese imports, which would affect an additional $300 billion worth of goods.
For its part, China will impose retaliatory tariffs on most US imports according to a revised $60 billion target list. This move aims to hit back at a tariff hike by the US on $200 billion of Chinese goods, further escalating the ongoing trade war.
