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The senior Chinese official claimed it was difficult to proceed with trade talks with the United States while Washington is putting "a knife to China's neck”.

The comment comes a day after both sides heaped fresh tariffs on each other's goods.

When the talks can restart would depend on the "will" of the United States, Wang Shouwen said.

Stressing the US has abandoned its mutual understanding with China, Wang added: "Now that the United States has adopted such a huge trade restriction measure –how can the negotiations proceed? It's not an equal negotiation.”