BANGKOK — China denied any suggestion Thursday that it is in active negotiations with the administration of President Donald Trump over tariffs, saying any notion of progress in the matter is as groundless as “trying to catch the wind.”

China’s comments come after Trump said Tuesday that things were going “fine with China” and the final tariff rate on Chinese exports would come down “substantially” from the current 145%.

“For all I know, China and the U.S. are not having any consultation or negotiation on tariffs, still less reaching a deal,” Guo Jiakun, a spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry, said during a daily briefing Thursday.

“China’s position is consistent and we are open to consultations and dialogues, but any form of consultations and negotiations must be conducted on the basis of mutual respect and in an equal manner,” Commerce Ministry spokesman He Yadong said. “Any claims about the progress of China-U.S. trade negotiations are groundless as trying to catch the wind and have no factual basis.”

Trump had told reporters earlier in the week that “everything’s active” when asked if he was engaging with China, which increased its own tariffs, although his Treasury secretary had said there were no formal negotiations.

China also made it clear that talks should involve the cancellation of all tariffs it currently faces.

“If the United States really wants to solve the problem, it should face up to the rational voices of the international community and all parties at home, completely cancel all unilateral tariff measures against China and find ways to resolve differences through equal dialogue,” He said.