China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) responded on Sunday to the United States’ recent move to exempt certain technological products from steep tariffs, calling it a “small step” toward correcting what it describes as a “wrong practice.” The decision by the administration of United States President Donald Trump affects devices such as smartphones, semiconductors, memory cards, and computers, which will no longer face the proposed 145% duty—though they may still be subject to lower levies.

“China is now evaluating the impact,” a spokesperson for the ministry stated. The spokesperson added that the U.S. should “face up to the rational voices of the international community and domestic parties, take a significant step in correcting its mistakes, completely cancel the wrong practice of ‘reciprocal tariffs,’ and return to the right path of mutual respect and resolving differences through equal dialogue.”

On Saturday, the Trump administration announced that a list of high-tech consumer products would be excluded from the heavy 145% tariff originally imposed on Chinese imports. This decision came amid increasing global concern over the economic impact of escalating trade measures between the two largest economies in the world.

While China acknowledged the partial exemption as a potential opening for de-escalation, it reiterated its demand for a full rollback of what it considers retaliatory and unjust trade barriers. The ministry’s tone remained firm, suggesting that more progress is needed to restore fair trade relations between Washington and Beijing.

The exemption applies to a range of essential consumer electronics, indicating a possible attempt by the U.S. administration to soften domestic economic blowback while keeping broader tariff measures in place. However, Chinese officials insist that a return to balanced and respectful negotiations is the only viable path forward.

As trade tensions persist, all eyes remain on whether this partial tariff relief will lead to a broader breakthrough or if further diplomatic pressure will be required to dismantle the wider trade barriers still in effect.