Ministry of Commerce responds to U.S. announcement of new tariffs on Chinese imports

A Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday that China's position on the trade war and tariff war is consistent: "We will stand firm if a fight is forced on us, and we are open to negotiation if approached." 

The spokesperson was speaking in response to the recent U.S. announcement of tariff hikes and other restrictive measures against China.

China and the United States share extensive common interests and have broad space for cooperation, said the spokesperson, adding that cooperation benefits both, while confrontation hurts both sides.

The spokesperson also reiterated that China's announcement of export control measures on rare earths and related items is a legitimate action by the Chinese government to refine its export control system in accordance with laws and regulations. 

Noting China's export controls are not export bans, the spokesperson said licenses will be granted for eligible applications to better safeguard the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains.

The spokesperson said China had notified the U.S. side through bilateral export control dialogue mechanisms before announcing the control measures. In contrast, the U.S. side has long been over-stretching the concept of national security and abusing export control, taking discriminatory actions against China. 

Particularly since the China-U.S. economic and trade talks in Madrid in September, the U.S. has introduced a string of new restrictive measures against China. The spokesperson asserted that these actions have severely damaged China's interests and undermined the atmosphere of the bilateral economic and trade talks, and China is resolutely opposed to them.

The U.S. side should not on the one hand seek dialogue, while on the other hand threaten and intimidate by introducing new restrictive measures. This is not the right way in dealing with China, said the spokesperson.

China urges the U.S. side to promptly correct its wrongdoings, show sincerity for trade talks, and work with China in the same direction, the spokesperson added.

The U.S. side should adhere to the important consensuses of the phone calls between the two heads of state, protect the hard-won outcomes of consultations, continue to use the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism, and address respective concerns and properly manage differences through dialogues, so as to promote the sound, stable and sustainable development of the China-U.S. economic and trade relationship.

(Cover: The Ministry of Commerce in Beijing, China. /VCG)