‘U.S. ATTEMPTS NOT SINCERE’
China warns of retaliation if Trump escalates current tensions, says commerce ministry
CHINA’S commerce ministry said yesterday trade negotiations with the United States would be impossible as Washington’s attempts at dialogue were not sincere, and vowed to retaliate should US President Donald Trump escalate current tensions.
China President Xi Jinping on Tuesday vowed to open China’s economy further and lower import duties on goods such as cars, which had boosted hopes for a compromise.
Trump responded in a tweet saying he was “thankful” for Xi’s remarks on tariffs and access for US carmakers, and said both countries would “make great progress together”.
Commerce Ministry spokesman Gao Feng, however, said Xi’s remarks had nothing to do with the trade row and should not be mischaracterised as a concession to Washington.
“I hope some people in the US do not misjudge the situation,” he said.
“If the US takes any action to escalate the situation, China will not hesitate to fight back.”
The world’s two largest economies have threatened each other with tens of billions of dollars’ worth of tariffs in recent weeks, leading to worries that Washington and Beijing may engage in a full-scale trade war that could damage global growth and roil markets.
Some US officials and analysts have said they believe the dispute could eventually be resolved via dialogue, but Beijing reiterated yesterday that no formal talks have taken place.
“It is not a matter of whether China is willing to participate in the negotiations. It is about the US not showing sincerity at all,” said Gao.