'Tariffs baton' poses challenges to world economic order

World
Europe

America is bent on putting itself first, advocating for unilateralism and protectionism, wielding a "tariff baton" and threatening other countries with "trade wars", posing severe challenges to the world economic order and the multilateral trade regime.

Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming made these remarks on Wednesday at the annual Commonwealth Diplomats Induction Program.

Despite opposition at home and abroad, the US announced that it would impose 10 percent in additional tariffs on 200 billion US dollars' worth of imports from China starting next week, a move which forced China to take counter-measures to safeguard its lawful rights and interests, the ambassador said.

An autoworker holds a sign during a news conference on Capitol Hill in US, July 19, 2018. /VCG Photo

"China's achievements since the introduction of reform and opening up can be attributed to the hard work of the Chinese people, and a fundamental reason for China's success is that we have found the right path for development," he added.

Liu emphasized that the "China miracle" was created by the Chinese people. It is not a result of "stealing" others' wealth or technology, nor is it a result of being bullied.

"We would not have come so far had we feared threats. We do not create trouble, but we are not afraid of it."

Liu stressed that the "maximum pressure" being applied to the country will never intimidate the Chinese people into submission.

The US's actions are deeply rooted in the concept of the "zero-sum game" and "beggar thy neighbor" which are completely out of date. They are a far cry from China's worldview, the way China sees international cooperation and development, and how China defines winning and losing, said the ambassador.