In a firm stand against rising trade tensions, China’s Commerce Ministry voiced strong opposition to the United States’ recent threat of imposing an additional 10 percent tariff on goods imported from China, set to take effect on March 4.
A spokesperson for China’s Commerce Ministry emphasized, \"China has repeatedly stressed that unilateral tariffs violate World Trade Organization rules and damage the multilateral trading system. China firmly opposes the U.S.' move.\" The US has cited concerns over fentanyl as the primary reason for the new tariff threat.
Addressing the allegations, the spokesperson highlighted that China maintains some of the world's strictest and most rigorously enforced anti-drug policies. Furthermore, China actively engages in international cooperation to combat drug trafficking alongside countries like the United States.
Despite these efforts, the spokesperson criticized the US for what it perceives as a disregard for objective facts. \"The U.S. has consistently ignored objective facts,” the spokesperson stated, noting that the US previously imposed a 10 percent tariff on Chinese imports for reasons beyond fentanyl and is now threatening additional tariffs.
China hopes that the United States will pivot away from this confrontational approach and return to resolving differences through equal dialogue. However, should the US persist in its tariff threats, China has pledged to take all necessary countermeasures to defend its legitimate rights and interests.
This development underscores the ongoing economic frictions between China and the United States, highlighting the delicate balance of global trade relations and the impact of unilateral actions on international markets.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
