China: We can deal with trade row fallout

> Beijing official says current spat with the US won’t have a big impact on its domestic industries

BEIJING: China is well prepared to handle any negative effects from its trade dispute with the United States, the commerce ministry said yesterday, adding that Beijing’s tariff hikes on US imports will not have a big impact overall on its domestic industries.

It would be a miscalculation by the United States if its intention is to contain China’s rise, ministry spokesman Gao Feng said at a regular media briefing in Beijing.

“If the US attempts to use protectionist trade policies to contain China’s development and force China to make concessions even at the costs of companies’ interests, it has taken a miscalculated step,” Gao said.

In the latest escalations in the widening trade row, the US said this week it had banned American companies from selling parts to Chinese telecom equipment maker ZTE for seven years, while China on Tuesday announced hefty anti-dumping tariffs on imports of US sorghum and measures on synthetic rubber imports from the US, EU and Singapore yesterday.

“We are capable of resolving the challenges created by China-US trade frictions,” said Gao.

Responding to a Reuters question, Gao said Beijing hopes Washington will not underestimate China’s resolve to fight back.

“We will relentlessly fight back,” he said, adding that China will take any necessary measures at any time in response to the US move against ZTE.

On April 2, China slapped additional import taxes on 128 US products including frozen pork and wine, in response to US duties on imports of aluminium and steel.

Two days later, China warned it was considering increasing duties on an additional 106 US imports, hitting back at the US’ plan to levy duties on US$50 billion (RM194.4 billion) of Chinese goods following a months-long intellectual property probe. – Reuters