'China is able to confront trade war and figure it out'

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‍According to Reuters, the US plans to propose a 25 percent tariff on 200 billion dollars in Chinese imports after initially setting them at 10 percent – a move that could escalate the trade dispute between the world's two biggest economies.

Geng Shuang, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Affairs, said on Wednesday that China will take countermeasures if the US takes further actions to escalate the trade situation.

The Chinese side, Geng said, has always insisted on solving trade friction through dialogue and consultation.

However, it has been a while since the two sides have held negotiations. Why is progress on just getting to the negotiating table being so difficult? Is the US proposing terms or hinting at escalations that China cannot accept? Li Yong, a senior fellow at the China Association of International Trade, shared his views with CGTN.

02:37

In his opinion, the situation reflects the unpredictable nature of the Trump Administration. The inconsistency of Trump's policies is the reflection of his changeable character. In the case of the trade war with China, on the one hand, he negotiated with China and on the other hand, he broke the deal both sides reached, which makes it China very difficult to talk with him.

According to Li, despite the hardships caused by the trade war, China is able to confront it and figure it out by taking serious measures. The most important measure is to continue to reform and open up regardless of the discouraging global environment. China will demonstrate its determination to safeguard free trade and globalization that bring benefits to the world.

01:44

Besides, Li doesn't view Donald Trump as an accomplished politician because the US president fails to take the costs of the trade war into consideration. Li said Trump launched the trade war without careful consideration. He can't see the severe damage caused by the trade war to local people and the rest of the world, the expert contended.