The Ministry of Commerce of China File photo: VCG

With full consideration of the expectations across the world, the interests of the Chinese side, and the call from US business community and consumers, the Chinese side decides to agree to engage with the US side, a spokesperson of China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Wednesday. The spokesperson said that recently, US senior officials frequently released signals to adjust tariffs and actively sent information to the Chinese side through multiple channels, expressing intention to start talk on tariff-related issues with China. China has conducted careful evaluation of these communications.

The MOFCOM spokesperson made the remarks after China's Foreign Ministry announced earlier on the same day that at the invitation of the government of Switzerland, from May 9 to 12, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council He Lifeng will visit Switzerland. During his visit to Switzerland, Vice Premier He, as the Chinese lead person for China-US economic and trade affairs, will have a meeting with the US lead person Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Since the inauguration of the new US administration, they have taken a series of unilateral and unreasonable tariff measures. These moves have severely disrupted China-US economic and trade relations, destabilized international economic and trade order, and posed grave challenges to global economic recovery and growth. To safeguard its legitimate rights and interests, China has adopted firm and resolute countermeasures, the MOFCOM spokesperson said.

China's position is consistent. Whether it is confrontation or negotiation, China's resolve to safeguard its development interests will never waver, neither will its stance and objectives in upholding international fairness and justice and the global economic and trade order. We will fight if we must. Our doors are open, if the US wants to talk. Dialogue and negotiation must be based on equality, respect and mutual benefit, the spokesperson continued.

As an old Chinese saying goes, "listen to what someone says and watch what they do." If the US seeks to resolve issues through negotiation, it must face squarely the severe negative impacts of its unilateral tariffs on itself and the world, face up to international economic and trade rules, fairness, justice, and the rational voices across sectors, demonstrate sincerity for talks, correct its erroneous practices, and meet halfway with China to address mutual concerns through equal consultations, the spokesperson said.

"If the US says one thing but does another, or even attempts to use talks as a pretext to continue coercion and blackmail, China will never accept it. Nor will China compromise its principles and stance or sacrifice international fairness and justice to reach any agreement," the spokesperson stressed.

He Weiwen, a senior fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, told the Global Times on Wednesday that the upcoming meeting between Chinese and US officials in Switzerland marks a positive development. "The fact that the two sides will meet is a good sign, but the key lies in the US side," He Weiwen noted, stressing that whether any substantial outcome emerges will depend on Washington's willingness to correct its unjust and illegal tariff policy - without preconditions or demands on China. "There can only be meaningful negotiations if the US reverses its mistakes," he said.

Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times that China's position remains unchanged. He emphasized that while China does not seek confrontation, it is committed to providing a more stable environment for businesses. "Engagement doesn't mean everything will return to the past overnight," he noted. "It reflects China's responsibility as a major power to reduce uncertainty in global trade."

He Weiwen underscored that China's openness to dialogue does not mean it fears a trade war. Commenting on China's confidence in handling the ongoing tariff dispute, he said it stems from both principle and national interest. "We are not merely defending our own rights; we are defending the multilateral trade order and the core role of the WTO," he said.

He Weiwen added that many American industries remain highly dependent on Chinese goods. He also noted growing global support for multilateralism, citing recent stances from ASEAN, the EU and Canada and the international backlash against US unilateralism.