The Trump administration has reportedly reached out to China in an effort to initiate talks over the recently imposed 145% tariffs on Chinese imports, according to Yuyuan Tantian, a social media account affiliated with China’s state broadcaster CCTV.

In a post on Weibo Thursday, the account cited unnamed sources who claimed that the U.S. had “proactively” sought discussions with Beijing to address the tariff dispute. The outreach follows President Donald Trump’s announcement of sweeping tariff hikes on Chinese goods, a move that has reignited fears of escalating trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies.

Despite these claims, China’s Foreign Ministry denied that any such engagement is underway. “As far as I know, there have been no consultations or negotiations between China and the U.S. on tariffs,” ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said during a press briefing on Wednesday.

Last week, Trump told a U.S. news outlet that his administration was in contact with Beijing and even claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping had personally called him to discuss the issue — a statement that Chinese officials have repeatedly refuted. Beijing accused Washington of “misleading the public” and reiterated that no formal dialogue has been initiated.

The conflicting statements underscore the uncertainty surrounding the future of U.S.-China trade relations, with both sides sending mixed signals amid mounting economic and geopolitical friction.