Amid China-US trade ‘conflicts’, Beijing calls for burying the hatchet

China is looking to “resolve conflicts” in trade with the next US administration while now facing the increased likelihood of more tariffs being put in place, as advocated by US president-elect Donald Trump.

“China is willing to strengthen communication, expand cooperation and resolve conflicts with the United States in accordance with the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation,” Ministry of Commerce (Mofcom) spokeswoman He Yongqian said on Thursday afternoon – a day after the former US president’s return to power became clear following Tuesday’s election.

She added that Beijing looks to “jointly promote the development of China-US economic and trade relations in a stable, healthy and sustainable direction that would benefit both countries, and the world”.

During the same press conference, Mofcom confirmed that European Union officials arrived in Beijing on Saturday for “intensive trade negotiations” regarding EU tariffs on imported Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) that kicked in last week. The two sides had expressed intentions to talk, but it was not confirmed until Thursday.

Beijing could be facing extra pressure in trade following Trump’s election and at a time when it is already seeing tension growing in expanded fronts with some of its other trade partners.

Trump initiated a trade war with China during his first administration, from 2017-21, and the effects rippled through the global supply chain, spurring a shift that saw production lines diversify away from China.