China’s authorities are ready to stand up to bullying from the United States. China has toughened its rhetoric following the introduction of trade tariffs by the administration of US President Donald Trump. China’s government stated that it would take measures to withstand Washington "in the face of unilateral acts of intimidation." This is necessary to "firmly protect its rights and interests," clarified He Yongqian, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce. According to her, China will not provoke trade disputes and remains "open to dialogue." Official comments from Beijing also indicate a willingness to negotiate.
A similar stance was expressed by Lin Jian, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He stated that his country "opposes Washington’s decision to impose additional 10% tariffs on Chinese imports." According to the official, Beijing's countermeasures are "necessary to safeguard its own legitimate rights and interests."
These official statements came just days after the White House slapped 10% tariffs on merchandise from China. In response, China introduced its own tariffs of 15% on US LNG and several other products.
Washington also suspended the so-called de minimis exemption, making it more expensive for Chinese online retailers to ship products. Meanwhile, American consumers are bearing the brunt of the trade war, as higher consumer prices are draining their wallets.
Earlier, China's Ministry of Commerce called for creating a "fair and predictable" environment for cross-border e-commerce.
