China rejects the US logic of 'reciprocity' in tariffs.
China firmly opposes the continuation of the US's "reciprocal" tariffs. Beijing believes that neither side will be a winner.
According to Global Times on April 11, China took strong retaliatory action on the second day of the first annual meeting of the WTO's Council for Trade in Goods on April 10. This move came as the US added the topic of reciprocal tariffs to the agenda.
At the meeting, China clearly stated its position on the so-called "reciprocal tariffs." Accordingly, Beijing deeply regrets the US's unilateral escalation of trade measures, which is plunging the global economy into significant instability. The incidents and chaos created daily by the US are eroding the stable environment necessary for the development of businesses and all members of the world, especially developing countries. China firmly opposes the excessive prolongation and abuse of national security.
China has reaffirmed its government stance on opposing the US abuse of tariffs, stating, "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 such trouble. Pressure and threats are not the right way to deal with China," Global Times reported.
China believes that trade disagreements between members should not be used as a pretext for unilateral measures and the initiation of tariff wars. For Beijing, there are no winners in a trade war.
According to Global Times, China highly values the multilateral trading system, with the WTO at its core, and supports Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala's call that "the WTO plays a crucial role as a platform for dialogue. Resolving these issues within a framework of cooperation is essential."
