China’s chief trade negotiator will travel to Washington this week, according to the commerce ministry, tempering fears that talks to resolve a protracted trade war between the US and Beijing had been scuppered.

Liu He, a vice-premier, will hold negotiations in Washington on Thursday and Friday, according to the Chinese ministry, which did not elaborate on the agenda.

Beijing has been largely muted in its response to Donald Trump’s threat on Sunday to raise tariffs from 10% to 25% on $200bn (£153bn) of Chinese goods by the end of the week. On Monday, the US trade representative, Robert Lighthizer, said China had gone back on commitments previously made in talks.

Why did Trump threaten to raise China tariffs – and what now? Read more

Speaking on Tuesday at a regular press briefing, Geng Shuang, the foreign ministry spokesman, said: “Adding tariffs can’t resolve any problem. Talks are by their nature a process of discussion. It is normal for both sides to have differences. China won’t shun problems and is sincere about continuing talks.”

While the official Chinese stance has remained restrained, an editorial published in state media outlets including the People’s Daily and Xinhua took a stronger line, calling out the US for attempting to place “extreme pressure” on China.

Q&A What is the China-US trade war about? Show Hide The roots of the dispute come from US president Donald Trump’s “America first” project to protect the US’ position as the world’s leading economy, while encouraging businesses to hire more workers in the US and to manufacture their products there. Trump complains of a large trade deficit with China, which he views as a symbol of the US’s decline as a manufacturing powerhouse. Chinese imports to the US totalled $539.5bn last year, while $120.3bn was sold the other way – leaving a trade deficit of $419.2bn. The president has accused Beijing of “unfair” trade policies, including allowing the theft of US companies’ intellectual property. The threat of import tariffs on Chinese goods is being used as leverage in talks where Trump is seeking changes to Beijing’s trade policy. Tariffs have been imposed by Washington on some Chinese goods sold in the US for about a year. They came on top of broader tariffs used by Trump that have hit China and other trading partners such as the EU, Canada and Mexico, on goods including steel and aluminium. In May 2019 the US president further ratcheted up existing import tariffs of 10% on $200bn (£153bn) of Chinese goods sold in the US to 25%, hitting everything on a long list of products. Trump has previously warned that 25% tariffs could be slapped on a further $325bn of goods – which would mean all Chinese imports being covered by tariffs. However, talks in November 2019 aimed at easing tensions were welcomed as the beginning of a thaw in the trade war between the two nations. Richard Partington and Jasper Jolly

“The US needs to recognise the situation and see where its best interest[s] lie … before that day, maintaining strength is the most important factor in dealing with the Sino-US issue. No matter what the situation is, the pace of our development will not change and cannot change,” said the editorial, published under the WeChat account Taoran Notes.

“Things we believe are advantageous for us, we will do without anyone asking. Things that are unfavourable to us, no matter how you ask, we will not take any step back. Don’t even think about it,” the editorial said, adding that the Chinese economy’s recent recovery shows the country’s resilience.

Bai Ming, the deputy director of the commerce ministry’s international market research institute, told the state-run Global Times on Monday: “The US should know by now that China will never give in to pressure.”

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Despite signalling its resolute stance, the fact that China is still sending a delegation may be a sign of Beijing’s eagerness to reach a deal.

Diana Choyleva, the chief economist at Enodo Economics, said: “China needs a deal more than the US, and the last thing it wants is to see tariffs go up to 25%” She pointed out the resumption of talks is a cause for optimism. “This is a positive sign, although it doesn’t mean there won’t be more nasty bumps along the road to a deal,” Choyleva said.

On Tuesday, Germany’s economy minister and France’s finance minister both called on the US and China to resolve the trade war. Christine Lagarde, the head of the International Monetary Fund, said: “For us at the IMF, it’s imperative that trade tensions are resolved in a way satisfying for everyone, because clearly tensions between the US and China are the threat to the global economy.”