China: China on Wednesday called on the United States to stop its "maximum pressure" tactics and "blackmail" in trade negotiations, pushing back on US President Donald Trump's recent comments that "the ball is in China's court."

According to Anadolu Agency, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian addressed a press conference, emphasizing that the tariff war was initiated by the US, not China. Lin urged Washington to abandon its strategy of "maximum pressure" and reiterated that Beijing does not wish to engage in a trade war, as it would result in no winners.

Lin's remarks came in response to President Trump's assertion on Tuesday that it was now up to China to make a deal. "The ball is in China's court. China needs to make a deal with us. We don't have to make a deal with them," Trump said in a statement read by spokesperson Karoline Leavitt. Trump noted that while there is no fundamental difference between China and any other country, China is notably larger and desires what the US possesses.

The trade tensions have escalated as Trump sharply increased tariffs on Chinese goods, up to 245%, prompting Beijing to retaliate with its own measures. China has imposed 125% tariffs on all US imports. When questioned about the Trump administration's latest tariff increases, Lin directed queries to the US for specific tax rate figures.

China's economic performance remains robust despite the ongoing trade tensions. The National Bureau of Statistics reported that China's GDP grew by 5.4% year on year in the first quarter of 2025, reaching $4.42 trillion.