China ‘evaluating’ US offer to engage in trade negotiations

Xi Jinping. China’s foreign ministry accused the US of ‘misleading the public’ after Trump said Xi had already called him. Photograph: Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters

Beijing is “evaluating” an offer from the US to engage in trade negotiations, the Chinese government has said, a week after Donald Trump claimed talks were already under way.

China’s commerce ministry said on Friday: “The US has recently taken the initiative on many occasions to convey information to China through relevant parties, saying it hopes to talk with China.”