China Pulls Out Of Trade Talks With US Amid Tariffs Row Escalation - Reports

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd September, 2018) Beijing scrapped its trade negotiations with the United States, which were scheduled to be held in the coming days, amid the recent escalation of tensions over import duties between the two states, media reported on Saturday.

China's decision to pull out of the talks showed Beijing's commitment to its pledge to avoid negotiation under threat, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people briefed on the matter.

US-Chinese trade tensions erupted in March after US President Donald Trump, who had repeatedly pledged to fix the US trade deficit with China, announced that his administration would impose tariffs on imported Chinese steel and aluminum.

The sides have tried to resolve the dispute by holding bilateral talks, but to no avail, since both Washington and Beijing have imposed several rounds of import duties on each other over the past months.

In the most recent case on Monday, Trump announced 10-percent tariffs on an additional $200-billion worth of Chinese imports. Beijing retaliated by revealing plans to introduce duties on imports of over 5,200 US goods worth $60 billion.

Moreover, Trump has since repeatedly vowed to further step up tariffs pressure on China.

The heightened tensions provoked speculations that Beijing would withdraw from the trade talks with Washington.