China has been "doing its best" to push for negotiations with the European Union over its tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles, a commerce ministry spokesperson said on Thursday, almost four months after the punitive import curbs took effect.

President Donald Trump's recent tariff threats may be bolstering China's appeal within the apparel sourcing arena.

The rapid-fire shots of tariffs and import curbs hearken back to Trump’s first term in office, when the U.S. and China engaged in a trade war that spanned most of Trump’s first four years in office and was continued to a certain extent under his successor, Joe Biden.

Existing American tariffs already restrict steel and aluminum shipments from China, which is now flooding other markets with its exports instead.

Hoping to head off a potential trade conflict, a top European Union official stressed the importance of active engagement and fairness in trade during a four-hour meeting with Trump administration

U.S. President Donald Trump signaled the possibility of a trade deal with China, despite escalating tensions over tariffs. Speaking aboard Air Force One on Wednesday, Trump said a new agreement with Beijing was