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China has signaled its willingness to discuss tariff reductions with the Trump administration, according to a statement released Friday by the Chinese Commerce Ministry. This potential shift in stance could pave the way for the world’s two largest economies to ease trade tensions that have disrupted global markets.

The ministry stated that the U.S. has recently initiated contact through various channels, expressing interest in holding talks with China, according to a report. The ministry added that Beijing is “evaluating this proposal.”

While seemingly open to negotiations, the Chinese Commerce Ministry cautioned against attempts to force a disadvantageous agreement. The ministry, as translated by Reuters, stated that “attempting to use talks as a pretext to engage in coercion and extortion would not work.”

On Thursday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested in an interview with Fox Business that Beijing was seeking a resolution with the U.S.

“I am confident that the Chinese will want to reach a deal. And as I said, this is going to be a multi-step process. First, we need to de-escalate. And then the over time we will start focusing on a larger trade deal,” he stated.

President imposed widespread global tariffs last month, including a 145% tariff on Chinese imports. In response, Beijing levied a 125% tariff on U.S. goods. However, China recently waived tariffs on a selection of American-made products. 

While some exemptions were already in place for pharmaceuticals, microchips, and aircraft engines, China has now added an exemption for ethane imports, .

This shift in Beijing’s tariff messaging contrasts sharply with comments made on April 23 during a U.N. Security Council Arria-formula meeting focused on “The Impact of Unilateralism and Bullying Practices on International Relations.” At that meeting, China accused the U.S. of using tariffs .

“Under the guise of reciprocity and fairness, the U.S. is playing a zero-sum game, which is essentially about subverting the existing international economic and by means of tariffs, putting U.S. interests above the common good of the international community and advancing hegemonic ambitions of the U.S. at the cost of the legitimate interest of all countries,” stated Chinese U.N. Ambassador Fu Cong in his opening remarks.

A State Department spokesperson told Digital that the meeting was “a waste of U.N. Security Council members’ time.” The spokesperson also criticized the meeting as an example of China’s manipulation of “the multilateral system to support its economic, political, and security interests.”