China’s Commerce Ministry on Monday called recent U.S. tariff exemptions a “small step” and urged President Donald Trump to fully eliminate the broader reciprocal tariffs, including the 145% duty on Chinese imports.
In an online statement, the ministry criticized the tariffs as “wrongful” and pushed for resolving trade tensions through “equal dialogue based on mutual respect.” It added that China is still assessing the impact of the exemptions, which cover tech products such as smartphones, semiconductors, and solar cells.
The White House did not immediately comment, but U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said there are no plans for Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to speak.
Chinese state media portrayed the exemptions as a retreat by the U.S., while the hashtag “Trump administration retreats again” surged to No. 2 on Weibo’s trending list.
Despite the exemptions, a 20% tariff on all Chinese goods remains in place. Analysts warn the broader economic effects of the tariff war could have lasting consequences, especially for U.S. small businesses.
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