Beijing (EFE).- China on Sunday accused the United States of derailing trade talks and warned that threats to raise tariffs are “not the right way” to engage with Beijing.
“The US actions have severely harmed China’s interests and undermined the atmosphere of bilateral economic and trade talks, and China is resolutely opposed to them,” the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said in a statement.
The ministry said Beijing’s recently announced “countermeasures,” including new restrictions on rare earth exports and related processing, are “necessary acts of passive defense” aimed at protecting “the legitimate rights” of Chinese industries and enterprises.
“It is hoped the US will face up to its mistake, move with China in the same direction, and return to the right track of dialogue and consultation,” the ministry said.
“If the US insists on going the wrong way, China will surely take resolute measures to protect its legitimate rights and interests.”
The statement came in response to US President Donald Trump’s threats of 100 percent tariffs on Chinese products and tighter technology export controls.
“Willful threats of high tariffs are not the right way to get along with China. China’s position on the trade war is consistent: we do not want it, but we are not afraid of it,” the ministry said.
China also accused Washington of abusing national security arguments to impose discriminatory export controls, particularly in the semiconductor sector.
Since the last bilateral trade talks in Madrid in September, the ministry said, the US has implemented “a string of new restrictive measures” targeting China, with over 3,000 items on its commerce control list, compared with China’s 900.
Tensions have escalated in recent days, casting doubt on a planned meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the APEC summit in South Korea later this month.
The two leaders had previously agreed in a Sep. 18 phone call to allow TikTok to continue operating in the US and to meet at the summit. However, Trump said Friday he now sees no reason to meet with Xi following China’s rare earth export announcement. EFE
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