U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States will not lift tariffs on Chinese goods unless Beijing makes substantial concessions in trade talks. In response, the Chinese Embassy in Washington swiftly issued a statement warning that extreme pressure tactics will not succeed and urged the U.S. to correct its course.

Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump told reporters that China “must take real and concrete actions,” otherwise the current tariffs will remain in place. He stressed that any decision to roll back duties would hinge on China’s “genuine demonstration of goodwill.”

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy stated that the two sides have not engaged in any negotiations regarding tariffs, nor have they reached any agreements. The spokesperson criticized Washington for attempting to negotiate while simultaneously applying pressure, stating, “This is not the correct way to engage with China,” and warned that continued coercion would only deepen confrontation.

The latest exchange highlights the deep-rooted rift between the world’s two largest economies over tariff issues. Analysts noted that, amid a slowing global recovery, rising tensions between Washington and Beijing could inject fresh uncertainty into global supply chains and investment flows.

Over the past week, the U.S. administration has sent mixed and sometimes contradictory signals about its tariff policy toward China, with senior officials offering diverging statements, leaving markets increasingly unsettled about the prospects for any deal. Beijing, for its part, has adopted a measured tone, emphasizing dialogue and equal-footed negotiations, while firmly rejecting what it called “blackmail and threats.”

According to sources familiar with the matter, Chinese authorities have begun evaluating potential countermeasures should the U.S. escalate tariffs further, including restricting exports of key raw materials and tightening regulatory scrutiny of American businesses.

While both sides publicly claim to remain open to dialogue, the deep mistrust over core issues makes the prospect of a breakthrough increasingly remote.