China vows to retaliate against new US tariffs
Chinese experts say that the imposition of new tariffs emphasizes America's hegemonic mindset.
According to the Global Times, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Commerce announced that they will take countermeasures to protect their rights and interests, in response to US President Donald Trump's recent statements about increasing tariffs.
The White House officially announced a 104% tariff on Chinese goods from April 9, after Beijing refused to lift its retaliatory tariffs.
In a statement published on its website on April 8, China's Ministry of Commerce said that China will resolutely take countermeasures to protect its rights and interests if the United States escalates tariff measures.
Chinese experts say that China could take six measures to counter US tariffs, including significantly increasing tariffs on US agricultural products such as soybeans and sorghum; banning imports of US poultry; suspending China-US cooperation on fentanyl-related issues; imposing restrictions on trade in services with the US; reducing or banning imports of US films; and investigating the intellectual property interests of US companies operating in China.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a regular press conference on April 8 that given the ongoing actions, the US does not seem to be serious about negotiations right now.
“If the US really wants to negotiate, it should show everyone that it is willing to treat others with equality, respect and mutual benefit. If the US decides to disregard the interests of itself, China and the rest of the world, and is determined to fight with tariffs and trade wars, then China’s response will continue to the end,” Lam Kiem said.
“Economic coercion and blackmail underscore Washington’s hegemonic mindset – seeking ‘America First’ and ‘American exceptionalism’ by forcing others to make sacrifices,” He Weiwen, a senior fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, told the Global Times.
The expert said that the US's unilateral and protectionist behavior goes against the multilateral trade rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO) as well as the legitimate rights and interests of other countries, and stressed that China's resolute countermeasures against the US's bullying behavior are necessary to safeguard true multilateralism and maintain the multilateral trading system.
