On Wednesday, China rejected the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on its exports and called for a peaceful resolution of differences between the two nations. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian expressed strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to the tariffs. He emphasized the need for “fair and mutually respectful dialogue and consultations” to resolve the growing trade tensions. Beijing’s response came after Trump implemented a 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods earlier this week, escalating the ongoing trade dispute.
China’s Retaliatory Tariffs and Antitrust Investigation Against Google
In retaliation to Trump’s tariffs, China announced a series of countermeasures, including a 15 percent tariff on coal and liquefied natural gas imports from the US, as well as a 10 percent tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery, and large-engine cars. China defended these measures, with Lin Jian stating that they were essential to protect China’s legitimate rights and interests. He also warned that trade wars result in no winners. Furthermore, China launched an antitrust investigation against Google, alleging the tech giant violated Chinese competition laws. This move adds to the mounting tensions between the two global powers.
Fentanyl Dispute and China’s Strong Drug Policy
The trade war between the US and China is further complicated by the issue of fentanyl, a potent opioid that has caused thousands of deaths in the US. President Trump has expressed concern that China is not doing enough to curb the flow of fentanyl into the United States. The White House asserted that Trump would not allow China to continue the distribution of the deadly drug. However, China rejected these claims, reiterating its zero-tolerance policy towards drugs. Lin Jian emphasized that fentanyl is a US issue, with its root cause lying within the United States itself.