In the midst of the customs escalation between the United States and China, which reached the point of imposing customs duties of 245% on some Chinese exports, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced on April 25 that it “evaluates the possibility of customs negotiations with Washington”, in the first public indication of the possibility of trade tensions between the two largest economies in the world.
“China’s position is clear,” said the Chinese ministry spokesman.
This statement comes a week after US President Donald Trump confirmed that negotiations “have already started”, which Beijing denied. In a publication on the “Weibo” platform attributed to the official Chinese television, China said that the United States “is the most desperate party,” which indicates a war of mutual statements, where each party seeks to avoid appearing in a retreat.
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Political experts liken the scene to the “chicken” game, where two sides are quickly heading towards each other, and those who deviate first are the weakest. “Both parties seek to avoid appearing in the appearance of the waiver party,” said the assistant professor at the National University of Singapore, in an interview with the BBC.
For his part, the researcher at the China Center of the Australian National University, Win T Song, believes that the two parties are using “constructive ambiguity” to formulate vague data that allows each of them to claim that he has not waived, indicating that Beijing is trying to create a “diplomatic director” without losing prestige.
With the absence of a third mediator, it is more difficult to find a way out that preserves the face of the face of both sides. Experts suggest that negotiations begin soon, with each party’s ability to claim that it is the victorious party or the initiative.
Internal pressure on Trump and Shi .. The economy pays the price
On the American side, President Trump suffers from a decline in his popularity, as a joint survey conducted by “Washington Post” and “Epsos” showed that only 39% agreed to his performance. Recent economic data also showed that the American economy has been shrinking for the first time since 2022 due to the import wave that preceded the application of customs duties.
In China, President Xi Jinping is facing complex challenges that include poor internal consumption, real estate crisis and growth of unemployment, forcing him to reassure the people that Beijing is able to withstand.
“Both leaders realize that it is no longer possible to achieve a full victory,” Song says.
No outlet is clear yet
While Washington did not deny Beijing’s allegations about its desire to start talks, close statements indicate a type of communication, according to Professor Chung, who said, “There is communication, which means that the possibility of access to an agreement is still in place, but it is far from completion.”
As the risks escalate the economies, experts question that the two parties arrived at the “serious search for a way out”. Until the moment, the two parties are still waiting for “winking first”.
