China urges US to lift latest tariffs given its negative impact on global economy and emphasizes dialogue.
China has called on the United States to completely remove all unilateral tariffs imposed on its exporters, emphasizing that a true resolution can only be reached through equal and constructive dialogue, as stated by the Ministry of Commerce on Thursday.
This statement from the Ministry came in response to recent reports about US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s comments, in which he stated that a “trade war with China is unsustainable” and that tensions are likely to ease soon.
During a press conference in Beijing, He Yadong, a spokesman for the Ministry, said that the US’s arbitrary tariff imposition goes against basic economic principles and market rules.
He further explained that, rather than addressing its own internal issues, the US’s actions disrupt the global economic and trade order, obstruct normal business operations, and negatively impact people’s livelihoods and consumer confidence.
The Ministry official pointed out that these actions have faced significant opposition both internationally and within the United States itself. Since the US initiated these tariff hikes unilaterally, it should consider the rational voices of the global community and its domestic stakeholders.
Zhou Mi, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, echoed these views, stating that the US’s tariff hikes not only undermine confidence in the global economic system but also erode international trust in the US.
Zhou highlighted that competition and collaboration between China and the US in various industrial sectors could accelerate innovation and development, benefiting consumers globally.
For instance, the collaboration between technological advances and market growth has rapidly developed new energy vehicles, leading to the swift commercialization of related products like autonomous driving, advanced batteries, and vehicle connectivity systems.
In response to Washington’s broad tariff actions, Ling Ji, Vice-Minister of Commerce, hosted a roundtable discussion with foreign business leaders to assess the impact of US tariff hikes on their operations in China.
In a separate statement, the Ministry of Commerce confirmed Ling’s commitment to further opening up China’s economy and called on multinational companies to unite against unilateralism and protectionism.
The Ministry affirmed that China will continue to pursue high standards of opening up, protect the legitimate rights of foreign companies, and take more proactive steps to help them overcome operational challenges.
A recent survey by the German Chamber of Commerce in China revealed that about 38% of German companies are accelerating their localization efforts in China in response to US tariffs, with the number rising to 48% in the automotive sector.
