GreenergyDaily

May. 8, 2025

1. US President Trump said Wednesday that he would not lower high tariffs on goods from China ahead of talks this weekend between US and Chinese officials, despite requests from Beijing to do so, according to the New York Times.

2. Asked by reporters in the Oval Office if he would reduce tariffs on Chinese exports — which are now at a minimum of 145 percent — to initiate talks, Mr. Trump was succinct: "No."

3. He also implied that the Chinese had been the ones to request trade talks, contradicting statements by China that the two sides were meeting at the request of the Americans. "I think they ought to go back and study their files," the president said.

4. China's Commerce Ministry in a statement last week had said that senior US officials had reached out to express their willingness to discuss tariffs.

5. "The US has recently sent messages to China through relevant parties, hoping to start talks with China," the ministry had said.