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U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement that an additional 100 percent tariff will be slapped on Chinese imports starting November 1, along with controls on critical U.S. software exports, marks a sharp escalation in Washington’s trade war on Beijing.

In a Truth Social post, Trump alleged it was a response to China's "extraordinary aggressive position on trade" as the Chinese government tightened up control of critical rare earths exports and charged special port fees for ships with U.S. affiliations.

However, to fully understand the dynamics at play, it is essential to consider not just China's policies but also the prior U.S. actions that have provoked this current standoff. The Trump administration's framing of the tariffs as a "defensive countermeasure" to China's "aggression" overlooks the critical context that these Chinese policies have been triggered by previous U.S. actions.

China's export controls on rare earths and related technologies are not an arbitrary show of power as some Westerners have been hyping, but a responsible move to safeguard the country's national security and fulfill its non-proliferation obligations.

The dual-use nature of rare earth items means these materials originating from China, without proper and strict control, could be misused in military and other sensitive fields, thus posing significant threats to China's national security and undermining international non-proliferation efforts.

Therefore as early as in 2001, China included technologies related to rare earths in its Catalog of Technologies Prohibited and Restricted for Export. In April, the Chinese government further tightened export regulations on rare earth exports by Chinese entities and individuals. The recent move on rare earths is a continuation of this management framework.

"This (export control) is a commonly adopted practice internationally," a Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) spokesperson said on Thursday, clarifying that exports for humanitarian assistance purposes will be exempt from the licensing requirement.

Contrary to Western allegations that China is violating previous trade agreements with the United States and impacting the stability of global supply chains, China has been playing an active role in pushing rare earth-related regulations toward a more standard direction. This is protecting, not harming, the security of global resource supply chain.

Regarding China's new charges on American ships, they are a legitimate defense action against the United States' additional port fees for Chinese ships.

Despite engaging in trade talks with Beijing and despite a meeting being anticipated between the leaders of the two countries on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in South Korea later this month, Washington insists on imposing additional port service charges on Chinese-owned or Chinese-build vessels, effective Tuesday.

It has cited Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974 for doing so, which authorizes the U.S. Trade Representative to investigate and retaliate against foreign countries it deems are engaging in unjust, unreasonable, or discriminatory trade practices to burden or restrict U.S. commerce.

"The U.S. move is a typical unilateralist action of apparent discriminatory nature, which severely harms the interests of Chinese companies," a MOFCOM spokesperson said in a statement.

In this context, China's countermeasure is nothing to be hyped. It is a justified move to protect the legitimate interests of Chinese enterprises and an attempt to maintain a fair competition environment in global shipping and shipbuilding markets.

The U.S. approach to trade tensions – aggressive tariffs and export blacklists – reflects a transactional and combative mindset ill-suited to manage the complexity of a deeply intertwined global economy. Instead of promoting fair play and cooperation, these protectionist policies risk dragging the Beijing-Washington relationship into a downward spiral.

By emphasizing tariffs as its primary tool, the U.S. overlooks the importance of diplomacy, multilateral cooperation, and sustainable economic engagement in resolving disputes. Instead, it risks perpetuating a destructive cycle of retaliation that harms both countries economically and destabilizes critical global supply chains in industries vital to national security and technological progress.

The escalation in China-U.S. tensions underscores the dangers of viewing complex economic challenges through the simplistic lens of tariffs. Washington should reconsider its confrontational trade tactics and pursue diplomatic solutions that recognize the reality that global supply chains today are inextricably intertwined and technologies interdependent. Only through mutual respect can the U.S. and China manage their mutually interdependent relations.

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