The Asian giant responded with 125% tariffs for US imports to their territory. “China does not want to fight, but is not afraid to fight,” a spokesman for his Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lin Jian, reiterated on Wednesday.
“If the United States really wants to solve the matter through dialogue and negotiation, it should stop exerting extreme pressure, stop threatening and blackmailing, and talking to China on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit,” he argued.
In his second mandate in the White House, Trump imposed tariffs additional 145% to numerous Chinese products that add to the rates applied by the previous administrations.
Initially he decreed 20% for the alleged role of China in the supply of fentanyl to the United States and then added another 125% to theoretically compensate for the imbalances in the commercial balance between the two countries.
However, in an apparent indication of distension, his administration exempted from the latter tariffs to products such as computers, smartphones and semiconductors, of which China is a great producer.
“On the China court”
On Tuesday, the White House transferred to China the responsibility of taking the first step to descale the dispute that, according to numerous economists, can lead to a global recession.
“ The ball is on China’s court . China needs to reach an agreement with us. We do not have to make a deal with them, “Trump said in a declaration read for his spokesman, Karoline Leavitt.
Despite this dispute, the Chinese economy grew 5.4% in the first quarter. The result, better than expected, does not yet reflect the effects of the tariff climbing launched in April.
In the presentation of these figures, a high position of the National Statistics Office recognized “some pressure on trade and economy”, but expressed confidence in “face external challenges.”
In addition to the drastic rise in tariffs, Beijing took other retaliation measures towards US businesses such as suspending the reception of Boeing manufacturer.
The agricultural sector is also on the radar of communist leaders. As confirmed by the Federation of American meat exporters to the AFP, Beijing decided not to renew the licenses of most veal exporters since mid -March.
