Chinese authorities have summoned Walmart executives following reports that the US retail giant asked its suppliers to reduce prices in response to tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, according to state media.

The discussions were reported Wednesday by Yuyuantantian, a social media account linked to state-run China Central Television. "Chinese companies shall not bear the blame for US tariffs," the account stated in a post on Weibo.

The move comes amid rising trade tensions between the world's two largest economies. The Trump administration initially set additional tariff rates of 10 percent on Chinese imports after taking office in January, then doubled these to 20 percent last week.

The Chinese government has responded with new fiscal and monetary stimulus measures announced Wednesday, targeting increased consumption amid these trade pressures. Officials set an ambitious 5% GDP growth target with a fiscal deficit target of 4% of GDP for the year.

Walmart has grown its presence in China despite slowing domestic consumer demand there. The retailer operates in more than 100 Chinese cities and relies heavily on Chinese-made goods for its US stores. Bloomberg reported last week that Walmart had asked Chinese manufacturers of kitchenware and clothing to cut prices by 10 percent.

China has responded to US trade measures with several countermoves:

• Imposing retaliatory tariffs on US energy and agricultural exports
• Adding clothing maker PVH (owner of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger) to an "unreliable entity list"
• Launching an antitrust investigation into Google
• Blacklisting 10 additional US companies with Taiwan military connections

The listing of US companies with substantial Chinese operations on national security grounds has caused concern throughout international business communities in Beijing and Shanghai.

Walmart's China sales reached $5.1 billion in the quarter ending January 31, up 28 percent from the previous year. The company is known in China for its Sam's Club warehouse stores. Last August, Walmart sold its stake in Chinese e-commerce platform JD.com for $3.6 billion to focus on its own brands.