The Trump administration has been saying that the two countries are engaged in talks to resolve the dispute, but Beijing asserts that no such discussions are happening.

Beijing is going on an international charm campaign to coax other countries hit hard by “Liberation Day” tariffs to take on the U.S.

Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have been making vaguely conciliatory comments about the administration’s approach to China. The former said this week that his tariffs will eventually “come down substantially” and that he won’t play hardball with Beijing.