Why Washington must make the first move and soon

Editor's note: Imran Khalid, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a freelance columnist on international affairs. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.                                                                            

With the United States recently reaching out through various channels multiple times, expressing a desire to engage in talks with China over tariff issues, China is "assessing the situation," China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on May 2. 

Behind that phrase lies a fundamental truth – dialogue cannot proceed while coercive pressure persists. If the United States truly wants to talk, it must first demonstrate sincerity, and there can be no sincerity without the removal of the very measures that ignited this trade war.

This conflict was not initiated by Beijing. It was the first Donald Trump administration that chose to walk away from decades of engagement by slapping punitive tariffs on Chinese goods under the guise of correcting trade imbalances. Nearly seven years later, the fallout continues.

The Joe Biden administration kept many of those measures intact. Now, with Trump back in the White House, the tariffs have been ballooned exorbitantly. As of today, some Chinese imports into the United States face a staggering tariff as high as 245 percent. China has retaliated with duties of 125 percent on most U.S. goods.

The cost is mounting, not just for Beijing and Washington, but for the global economy, which continues to stagger under the weight of inflation, fragmented supply chains, and a breakdown in trust between the world's two largest economies.

Washington now claims to be extending an olive branch. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to Fox News, said, "The Chinese are reaching out.  They want to meet." President Trump, never one to shy away from rhetorical flourish, has even gone so far as to claim that talks are already under way – something Chinese officials have denied.

China's position remains consistent: "If forced to fight, China will fight to the end, and for talks, the door is open." But that openness hinges on principle. MOFCOM has made it abundantly clear that any genuine dialogue must begin with the removal of the unilateral U.S. tariff hikes. Anything less would reflect not diplomacy, but duplicity.

If Washington believes it can maintain maximum pressure while dangling the prospect of talks, it misunderstands both the psychology and the strategic patience of its interlocutor. Beijing is not seeking talks out of desperation. It is willing to engage – but not from a position of submission. To enter into negotiations while under tariff fire would legitimize coercion as a negotiating tactic. That would set a precedent unacceptable not just to China, but to any country seeking sovereign equality in international relations.

The broader problem here is one of credibility. For all its talk of wanting to stabilize relations, the U.S. has shown a striking unwillingness to take the first step. Officials in Washington speak of "guardrails," "communication channels," and "responsible competition" – but if these phrases are not anchored in policy shifts, they risk becoming hollow tropes.

The costs of this impasse are being felt in very tangible ways. Exporters and importers on both sides are reporting massive disruptions. Port activity has slowed. Bilateral trade volumes are shrinking. Supply chains – still reeling from pandemic-induced shocks – are being hit again. And ordinary consumers are paying the price.

The irony is inescapable. Washington says it wants to engage, yet imposes the very conditions that make engagement impossible. It expresses concern over slowing global growth, but is continuously exacerbating economic fragmentation through its policies. It laments a breakdown of trust with Beijing, even as it consistently adopts policies that deepen the very mistrust it decries.

If the United States truly seeks to reboot the relationship, it must first undo its own errors. That means lifting the unilateral tariff barriers that have distorted trade, strained political ties, and introduced uncertainty into every aspect of bilateral economic exchange. Without such a move, any offer of dialogue will be viewed, rightly, as insincere.

China has every right to "assess the situation" because thus far, the situation suggests that the United States wants to talk without listening, negotiate without compromising, and extract without offering. This is not diplomacy. It is pressure dressed in diplomatic clothing. And as MOFCOM stated, "Saying one thing while doing another, or even attempting to use talks as a cover for coercion and blackmail, will not work with China."

The coming weeks may yet offer an opportunity for course correction. But time is not unlimited. The longer Washington clings to the illusion that it can secure favorable terms through pressure, the more entrenched this impasse will become. In the absence of genuine steps – starting with the lifting of tariffs – there can be no progress, no trust, and certainly no breakthrough.

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