(Beijing) American customs duties represent “enormous unprecedented risks” for the world economy, said the Chinese finance minister in an article published on the website of his ministry on Tuesday.
Posted at 10:07 a.m.
The first two world economies are engaged in a trade war that saw US President Donald Trump impose customs duties reaching 145 % on many Chinese products and Beijing retaliated with 125 % on imports from the United States.
Speaking at a meeting of the Asian Development Bank (BAD) in Milan from May 4 to 7, the Chinese finance minister Lan Fo’an did not specifically mention the United States, but said, according to this article, that the risks were the fact of “a certain country” (which) launched tariff and commercial wars.
“The current international situation is increasingly turbulent and chaotic, unilateralism and protectionism are in full ascent,” he added, while calling members of the AfDB to respect the rules of multilateral institutions.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that the United States had to change its “threatening” approach if they wish to reach an agreement, according to the Xinhua news agency.
“If a negotiated solution is really what the United States wants, it should stop threatening and exerting pressure, and seeking a dialogue with China based on equality, respect and mutual benefit,” said ministry spokesman Jian during a daily press point.
“The position of China is clear and consistent: we will fight, if we have to fight. Our doors are open, if the United States wants to speak, “he said.
-On Friday, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce sparked hopes for negotiations with the United States when it said it “currently assessed” an American offer from commercial talks.
However, he insisted that Washington had to cancel the “unilateral customs duties”, however, weighing on China, a measure rejected by Trump in an interview with NBC recorded on Friday.
During this interview, broadcast on Sunday, the American president said that the Chinese economy was in “collapse” and replied: “Why would I do that? When asked if he would lower customs duties to bring China to the negotiating table.
However, he ensured that he wanted to lower these customs duties “at some point”.
Beijing has repeatedly promised to carry out a trade war “until the end” if necessary. In a video published last week on social networks, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs promises that its country “will never kneel”.
“If it’s a fight, we will fight until the end; If it’s a conversation, the door is wide open. The tariff war and the trade war were launched unilaterally by the United States, “said the Chinese trade ministry on Friday.
The two savings were struck by customs duties, which shaken the markets and disturbed the supply chains. The activity of Chinese factories contracted in April, Beijing accusing a “net change” in world activity.
American GDP was contracted in the first three months of the year, the customs duties promised by Donald Trump for early April triggering a preventive increase in imports, which swelled the American trade deficit in March, up 14 % over a month, more than analysts were waiting.
