Beijing Slams United States of ‘Double Standards’ Over Import Duty Ultimatum
Trump’s latest ultimatum to impose an further full import duty on products from China has been labeled a “classic case” of US double standards, per the Chinese government.
A official from China’s Commerce Ministry additionally remarked that China could enact its own unrevealed “responsive actions” if the US President executes his threat, emphasizing that the country was “fearless” of a looming trade conflict.
This past Friday, the former president responded at China’s decision to reinforce its regulations for overseas sales of rare earth minerals, charging Beijing of “turning aggressive” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.
Furthermore, he threatened to cancel a planned summit with China’s President Xi, which was set for a summit in South Korea before the month ends.
His statements on that day rattled financial markets, with the S&P 500 share index falling by nearly three percent, marking its biggest drop since April.
The president’s words revived apprehensions of a commercial dispute between the US and China.
Earlier this year, the two sides had agreed to remove significant levies on each other’s imports, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the two countries.
As a result, US tariffs on Chinese goods incurring an additional import tax compared with the year’s onset, while American products entering the Chinese market face a 10% tariff.
China’s latest remarks – released by the relevant government department in the manner of written responses to press queries – mirrored terminology from the height of the latest commercial tensions.
Officials denounced American limits on exports on chips and semi-conductors while justifying China’s own restrictions on exports on key elements as “routine measures” to ensure state interests and that of every country.
The official stated that for “an extended period”, the United States had “overstretched the concept of state security, abused overseas sale restrictions and “enforced” unfair treatments against the Chinese nation.
“Resorting to trade levy ultimatums is not the proper method to interact with China,” their representative stated.
“The nation’s view” on a import duty dispute has always been steady: we wish to avoid one, but we are fearless of one.”
Last week, China announced it was tightening overseas sale regulations on rare earths and additional substances essential to cutting-edge industry.
This move was regarded as a important measure, as the country handles about ninety percent of the world’s rare earths, which are employed in goods such as photovoltaic modules and mobile phones.
Latest statements from Washington and Beijing are being seen by analysts as a means of strengthening positions prior to forthcoming discussions.
Is not yet known whether a meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping, expected at a high-level meeting in South Korea in the coming weeks, will take place as planned.