China-US Trade friction: MOFCOM says China would respond to new tariffs

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02:51

Beijing is waiting to respond to any potential new tariffs. The US is considering imposing taxes on an additional 200-billion-US-dollars worth of Chinese goods. But China's Ministry of Commerce is urging Washington to solve the dispute through dialogue - instead of with pressure. Our reporter, Wang Hui, has the details.

A six-day public hearing on Washington's intent to impose additional tariffs on Chinese goods worth 200 billion US dollars concluded on Thursday. The U.S. could implement the tariffs at any time now. I asked a relevant question at a press conference held by the ministry.

WANG HUI BEIJING "The US plans to impose extra tariffs on Chinese products with the value of 200-billion US dollars. The public hearing on this measure is coming to an end. We see that over 90 percent of the participants said no. But some media reports say that US President Donald Trump is likely to continue this measure. What's your response?"

GAO FENG, SPOKESMAN MINISTRY OF COMMERCE "If the US disregards the oppositon from most companies who voiced their opinion, China will have to retaliate. We want to reiterate that any pressure will be unreasonable, and ineffective to China. A trade war won't resolve any problem, only equal, credible dialogue and negotiation is the right choice of resolving the trade friction."

Washington threatened to impose 25-percent tariffs on a wide range of Chinese exports worth 200 billion US dollars in early August. Beijing soon followed with a tariff list of American goods valued at 60-billion dollars. Beijing said the products on that list would be subject to extra tariffs ranging from 5% to 25%.

The spokesman, Gao Feng, suggested at the press conference that if the US moved on its proposed tariffs, then Beijing would implement additional tariffs and more as well.

GAO FENG, SPOKESMAN MINISTRY OF COMMERCE "China will pay close attention to the impact caused by US tariffs and help both domestic and foreign companies overcome difficulties. China has the confidence, ability and solutions to maintain steady and healthy economic growth."

China and the U.S. have imposed 25 percent more tariffs on each other's products worth a total of 50 billion US dollars since their trade spat began in late March. The two countries already have conducted four rounds of negotiations concerning the dispute.

WANG HUI BEIJING "Gao also said that Beijing and Washington have maintained communications since August 24th, when the fourth round of negotiation ended. But he refused to say whether the two countries have made any progress on resolving the new tariff measures, or whether there will be another round of negotiations on the matter. Wang Hui, CGTN, Beijing."