China on Monday ripped U.S. actions in the trade dispute between the two countries, saying it is impossible to negotiate with Washington under present conditions.

“Under the current circumstances, both sides, even more, cannot have talks on these issues,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters, according to Reuters.

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“The United States with one hand wields the threat of sanctions, and at the same time says they are willing to talk. I’m not sure who the United States is putting on this act for,” Geng continued.

The remarks come on the heels of a Sunday tweet from President Trump Donald John TrumpBubba Wallace to be driver of Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin NASCAR team Graham: GOP will confirm Trump's Supreme Court nominee before the election Southwest Airlines, unions call for six-month extension of government aid MORE in which the president said China would eventually eliminate its trade barriers in the midst of the dispute.

President Xi and I will always be friends, no matter what happens with our dispute on trade. China will take down its Trade Barriers because it is the right thing to do. Taxes will become Reciprocal & a deal will be made on Intellectual Property. Great future for both countries! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018

The Trump administration in March said it would impose tariffs on roughly $50 billion worth of Chinese imports, pushing China to announce its own $50 billion tariff package aimed at U.S. goods, including automobiles.

Trump then ordered officials to look into $100 billion in additional tariffs on China, escalating the dispute.

Despite the ongoing threats, Trump has said Washington and Beijing are not embroiled in a trade war.

“We are not in a trade war with China, that war was lost many years ago by the foolish, or incompetent, people who represented the U.S.,” the president said last Wednesday.

“Now we have a Trade Deficit of $500 Billion a year, with Intellectual Property Theft of another $300 Billion. We cannot let this continue!”