Chinese Government Condemns America of ‘Contradictory Stances’ Over Trade Levy Warning

Trump’s newest warning to introduce an extra complete levy on Chinese goods has been described as a “classic case” of United States’ contradictory behavior, as stated by the Beijing administration.

A official from China’s Commerce Ministry also stated that Beijing could implement its own undisclosed “retaliatory steps” if the White House occupant executes his warning, emphasizing that the country was “unafraid” of a potential commercial battle.

On Friday, Donald Trump hit back at the Chinese government’s action to tighten its policies for foreign shipments of rare earths, alleging the Chinese leadership of “adopting a confrontational stance” and attempting to hold the global community “under its control”.

He also vowed to pull out of a planned summit with China’s President Xi Jinping, which was arranged for a conference in South Korea later this month.

His statements on last Friday unsettled financial markets, with the S&P 500 falling by over two and a half percent, marking its steepest fall since April.

The president’s words renewed apprehensions of a commercial dispute between the United States and China.

In May, the two sides had agreed to drop significant levies on each other’s products, which had raised the prospect of bilateral trade stopping between the economic powers.

This left, American import duties on Chinese imports subject to an added thirty percent tariff compared with the start of the year, while US goods entering the country face a 10% tariff.

The most recent comments from China – published by the Commerce Ministry in the form of official answers to press queries – reflected terminology from the height of the recent trade conflict.

The remarks condemned American limits on exports on electronic components while defending China’s own restrictions on exports on key elements as “standard procedures” to safeguard domestic safety and that of the global community.

Their representative stated that for “a long time”, the America had “broadened the definition” of state security, abused export control measures and “implemented” unfair treatments against the Chinese nation.

“Resorting to import duty warnings is not the proper method to engage with Beijing,” their representative commented.

“Beijing’s stance” on a tariff war has consistently been steady: we are not seeking one, but we are unafraid of one.”

Recently, the Chinese government revealed it was strengthening foreign shipment restrictions on rare earths and additional substances essential to high-technology production.

This move was regarded as a key move, as the nation processes about 90% of the planet’s critical minerals, which are used in products such as renewable energy components and mobile phones.

The recent comments from the US and China are being seen by some as a method of enhancing bargaining power in preparation for future trade talks.

Remains uncertain whether a meeting between Trump and China’s leader, scheduled at a high-level meeting in South Korea before month’s end, will still proceed.

Katherine Salazar
Katherine Salazar

A digital strategist with over a decade of experience in helping UK businesses scale through technology and marketing innovations.