China says US tariffs must be lifted to reach a deal to end trade war

The Chinese commerce ministry said Thursday that US tariffs against China must be lifted for the two sides to reach a deal to end the trade war, reported news agency AFP. 

Trade teams from the world's top two economies "have maintained communication", the report added quoting ministry spokesman Gao Feng, days after presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping announced a truce and committed to revive negotiations on the sidelines of G20 in Osaka, Japan.

"The United States' unilateral tariff increase on China's exports to the United States is the starting point for the Sino-US economic and trade frictions," Gao said at a weekly press briefing.

"If the two sides can reach an agreement, the tariffs imposed must be completely eliminated. China's attitude toward this is clear and consistent," Gao added.

The countries have exchanged tariffs on $360 billion in two-way trade and negotiations broke down in May after the United States accused China of reneging on its commitments.

The US leader said he would not slap new tariffs on Chinese exports and suggested he could take a softer stance on Chinese telecom giant Huawei, which he has moved to blacklist. 

(With inputs from AFP)