The United States' imposition of a 100% tariff hike on China prompted a response from China’s Ministry of Commerce on Sunday (October 12), stating, “Resorting to threats of high tariffs is not the correct way to engage with China.” Regarding the tariff war, China’s position has been consistent: “We are unwilling to fight, but we are also not afraid to fight.”
The Ministry of Commerce released a written Q&A with a spokesperson on Sunday. In response to the U.S. announcement of a 100% tariff hike on China and the implementation of export controls on all critical software, the spokesperson said that China’s export control measures on rare earths and related items are normal actions by the Chinese government to improve its export control system in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, and the U.S. response reflects a typical “double standard.”
The spokesperson added that for a long time, the U.S. has broadened the concept of national security, abused export controls, taken discriminatory measures against China, and imposed unilateral long-arm jurisdiction on numerous products, including semiconductor equipment and chips. The U.S. export control list covers over 3,000 items, while China’s covers just over 900 items. The U.S. has long implemented minimum content rules for export controls as low as 0%. U.S. actions severely harm the legitimate rights and interests of businesses, disrupt international economic and trade order, and seriously undermine the security and stability of the global supply chain.
The spokesperson continued: “Especially since the China-U.S. economic and trade talks in Madrid in September, in just over 20 days, the U.S. has continuously introduced a series of new restrictions against China, adding numerous Chinese entities to the export control entity list and the specially designated nationals list; arbitrarily expanded the scope of controlled enterprises through piercing rules, affecting thousands of Chinese companies; disregarded China’s concerns and goodwill, and insisted on imposing Section 301 measures on China’s maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding industries. The U.S. actions have severely harmed China’s interests and seriously disrupted the atmosphere of bilateral economic and trade talks. China firmly opposes this.”
The spokesperson added: “Resorting to threats of high tariffs is not the correct way to engage with China. Regarding the tariff war, China’s position has been consistent: we are unwilling to fight, but we are also not afraid to fight.”
The spokesperson stated that China urges the U.S. to promptly correct its wrong practices, follow the important consensus reached between the leaders of both countries, safeguard the hard-won negotiation outcomes, continue to leverage the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism, address respective concerns through dialogue on the basis of mutual respect and equal consultation, properly manage differences, and maintain stable, healthy, and sustainable China-U.S. economic and trade relations. “If the U.S. persists in its course, China will also resolutely take corresponding measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.”
The Ministry of Commerce released a written Q&A with a spokesperson on Sunday. In response to the U.S. announcement of a 100% tariff hike on China and the implementation of export controls on all critical software, the spokesperson said that China’s export control measures on rare earths and related items are normal actions by the Chinese government to improve its export control system in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, and the U.S. response reflects a typical “double standard.”
The spokesperson added that for a long time, the U.S. has broadened the concept of national security, abused export controls, taken discriminatory measures against China, and imposed unilateral long-arm jurisdiction on numerous products, including semiconductor equipment and chips. The U.S. export control list covers over 3,000 items, while China’s covers just over 900 items. The U.S. has long implemented minimum content rules for export controls as low as 0%. U.S. actions severely harm the legitimate rights and interests of businesses, disrupt international economic and trade order, and seriously undermine the security and stability of the global supply chain.
The spokesperson continued: “Especially since the China-U.S. economic and trade talks in Madrid in September, in just over 20 days, the U.S. has continuously introduced a series of new restrictions against China, adding numerous Chinese entities to the export control entity list and the specially designated nationals list; arbitrarily expanded the scope of controlled enterprises through piercing rules, affecting thousands of Chinese companies; disregarded China’s concerns and goodwill, and insisted on imposing Section 301 measures on China’s maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding industries. The U.S. actions have severely harmed China’s interests and seriously disrupted the atmosphere of bilateral economic and trade talks. China firmly opposes this.”
The spokesperson added: “Resorting to threats of high tariffs is not the correct way to engage with China. Regarding the tariff war, China’s position has been consistent: we are unwilling to fight, but we are also not afraid to fight.”
The spokesperson stated that China urges the U.S. to promptly correct its wrong practices, follow the important consensus reached between the leaders of both countries, safeguard the hard-won negotiation outcomes, continue to leverage the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism, address respective concerns through dialogue on the basis of mutual respect and equal consultation, properly manage differences, and maintain stable, healthy, and sustainable China-U.S. economic and trade relations. “If the U.S. persists in its course, China will also resolutely take corresponding measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.”