Amid conflicting signals over the ongoing U.S.-China trade war, China has criticized unilateral tariff actions, labeling them as a reflection of the “extreme selfishness” of some nations.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, speaking on the sidelines of the China–Central Asia foreign ministers’ meeting in Kazakhstan, emphasized that Beijing supports international trade rules, opposes protectionism, and aims to build solidarity with other nations in response to tariff policies.

In a meeting with his Uzbek counterpart, Bakhtiyor Saidov, Wang reaffirmed China’s commitment to multilateralism, stating that this approach can help bring stability to the global order.

The trade war between the world’s two largest economies has escalated, following U.S. tariffs reaching as high as 145% on various Chinese imports. The U.S. claims the measures respond to unfair trade practices and aim to revitalize domestic manufacturing. These moves have rattled markets and sparked concerns over a potential global economic downturn.

China’s statement came just one day after U.S. President Donald Trump, in an interview with TIME magazine on April 22 (published Friday), claimed that negotiations with China were underway. He mentioned that Chinese President Xi Jinping had personally called him, and active talks were ongoing. Trump predicted that trade agreements could be announced within the next three to four weeks.

However, Beijing denied that any such discussions were taking place, adding to the growing uncertainty and contradicting narratives about progress in resolving the trade conflict.