China Responds to US Tariffs and Trade Restrictions, Calls for Sincere Dialogue

On 14 October, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce addressed the recent US decision to impose additional tariffs and other restrictive measures on Chinese imports, following up on ongoing trade tensions between the two nations. The spokesperson criticised the US approach, arguing that it is contradictory for the US to push for dialogue while simultaneously threatening new restrictions. China, the spokesperson said, believes that such tactics are counterproductive and urged the US to correct its course.

The comments came after a US official suggested that China had postponed a proposed phone call regarding China's recent export control measures on rare earths and related materials. The US had expressed concern that these measures could destabilise global supply chains, and suggested that a discussion could help ease tensions. However, the Ministry of Commerce spokesperson clarified that China had already communicated its stance to the US on these issues.

China's export control measures, the spokesperson explained, are legitimate actions based on national laws and regulations aimed at refining the country's export control system. These measures, which include restrictions on rare earths and related items, are not intended as blanket bans, but rather as controls designed to protect national security and contribute to international stability. China has assured that applications which meet regulatory requirements will continue to be approved, maintaining the stability of global production and supply chains. The spokesperson also noted that China had previously informed the US about these measures through the established bilateral export control dialogue.

The spokesperson further criticised the US for its long-standing practice of using national security concerns to justify excessive export controls, accusing Washington of unfairly targeting China with discriminatory measures. The US, China said, has imposed a series of new restrictions on China since the Sino-US Madrid Economic and Trade Talks, which have damaged Chinese interests and created an adversarial atmosphere for negotiations.

Responding to a question about whether this trade conflict might escalate, the spokesperson reiterated China's consistent position on trade and tariff wars: should the US continue down the path of confrontation, China would not back down; but if the US is willing to engage in dialogue, China remains open to discussions. The spokesperson highlighted that the two countries share significant common interests and ample opportunities for cooperation. Confrontation, the spokesperson warned, would only harm both sides, whereas cooperation would yield mutual benefits.

Referring to previous economic and trade consultations, the spokesperson pointed out that the four rounds of talks between China and the US have demonstrated that solutions can be found through mutual respect and equal dialogue. Recent working-level discussions continued to take place under the framework of the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism, with the most recent talks occurring just the day before.

Concluding the statement, the spokesperson once again stressed that the US must stop using threats and intimidation while seeking dialogue. China called on the US to demonstrate sincerity in negotiations and take immediate steps to rectify its actions. Both countries, China said, should uphold the important consensus reached during the telephone conversation between their respective heads of state, safeguard the progress made in their trade discussions, and continue working towards the stable and sustainable development of Sino-US economic relations.