The US government has issued a challenge to the entire world with the introduction of tariffs, according to Lin Jian, the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Such measures represent a serious violation of the legitimate rights of other countries and contradict the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO), he emphasized during a press conference on Thursday.
In trade and tariff wars, there are no winners, the spokesperson argues. And further:
“China does not want to fight, but is not afraid of conflicts. We will not sit idly by if the legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese people are denied and we will also not sit idly by if international economic and trade rules and the multilateral trading system are destroyed.”
Peking is taking countermeasures not only to protect China’s sovereignty, security and development goals, but also in the interest of the international community, Lin announces and declares a “fight to the end.”
Furthermore, Lin accuses the US of pursuing “selfish interests” and using tariffs as a means of pressure to gain advantages for itself. If Washington were to undermine the interests of other countries, this policy would encounter strong opposition, explains China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson. If the United States of America were to continue their policy despite all warnings, they would lose the trust of their own people and fail, he adds.
After the US increased tariffs on Chinese imports to 104 percent and China responded with an announcement of 84 percent counter-tariffs, US President Donald Trump has further increased tariffs on Chinese goods “effective immediately.” Imports from China now face tariffs of 125 percent. However, Donald Trump has put most of the tariffs on hold for 90 days, with China being the exception.