Talks begin as U.S., China weigh Tariff Impact

English , International - بین الاقوامی , Snippets , / Friday, May 2nd, 2025

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rki.news
In a notable development, the United States has quietly reached out to Beijing to begin discussions over the sweeping 145% tariffs recently announced by President Donald Trump. The outreach signals a possible recalibration in U.S.-China trade dynamics after months of escalating rhetoric.
Sources familiar with the diplomatic backchannel suggest that Washington is exploring a phased negotiation path rather than an abrupt reversal, with a focus on restoring select supply chains and rebalancing key trade sectors. While Trump has defended the tariff hike as a move to protect American manufacturers, it has drawn sharp responses from Chinese officials and concern among global investors.
Despite initial pushback, Beijing is said to be open to talks, provided the discussions are framed as mutual interest-based rather than unilateral demands. Analysts believe China is also weighing the impact of the tariffs on its own struggling export markets, especially in electronics, automotive components, and rare earth elements.
The approach from Washington does not yet amount to a formal reopening of trade talks, but it reflects pressure from major U.S. business lobbies and agricultural exporters who fear long-term disruptions. Some industry leaders warn that without compromise, both economies risk deepening inflationary trends and global market instability.
Observers view this quiet contact as a pragmatic step from the Trump administration less a retreat than a tactical reset ahead of the G7 summit later this year, where trade tensions are expected to dominate.
If successful, even limited dialogue could ease the ongoing friction between the world’s two largest economies, though any breakthrough remains uncertain.