China rejects US 'reciprocal' tariff logic
China firmly opposes the US's continued "reciprocal" tariff policy. Beijing believes that no one will be a winner.
According to the Global Times on April 11, China took a tough response on the second working day of the first annual meeting of the WTO Council for Trade in Goods on April 10. The move came in the context of the US adding the topic of “reciprocal” tariffs to the discussion agenda.
At the meeting, China made clear its stance on the so-called "reciprocal tariffs". Accordingly, Beijing deeply regrets the unilateral escalation of trade measures by the US, which is dragging the global economy into great uncertainty. The incidents and chaos created by the US on a daily basis are eroding the stable environment needed for the development of enterprises and all members around the world, especially developing members. China firmly opposes the excessive prolongation and abuse of national security.
China has reiterated the Chinese government's stance on opposing the US's tariff abuse, saying that "China is an ancient civilization and a land of propriety and righteousness. China values sincerity and goodwill. We do not cause trouble, nor are we threatened by it. Pressure and threats are not the right way to deal with China," the Global Times said.
China believes that trade disputes among members should not be used as an excuse to take unilateral measures and launch a tariff war. For Beijing, there are no winners in a trade war.
According to the Global Times, China attaches great importance to the multilateral trading system, with the WTO at its core, and supports Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala's call that "the WTO serves as an important platform for dialogue. It is necessary to resolve these issues within the framework of cooperation."
