China “fully prepared” if trade war kicks off
U.S. is supposed to start charging tariffs on Chinese goods on Friday
BEIJING» China said Tuesday it’s “fully prepared” for a trade war with the United States as hopes dwindle for a breakthrough in tensions this week between the world’s two biggest economies.
Washington is due to start charging tariffs on $34 billion in Chinese imports as of Friday while Beijing has pledged to retaliate with equal tariffs on $34 billion in U.S. goods.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters that China is “fully prepared to take a package of necessary measures” to safeguard its national interests.
U.S. companies ranging from soybean farms to whiskey distilleries to automakers like Ford and Tesla could suffer if China ramps up retaliatory measures. China’s list is designed to inflict pain on U.S. farmers and other groups that are important to President Donald Trump’s political base.
Trade friction also threatens to ensnare major Chinese companies, with China Mobile the latest to encounter obstacles in the U.S. market. A U.S. agency under the Department of Commerce recommended Monday against giving operating licenses to China’s largest telecom carrier, citing national security risks posed by the staterun firm.
Lu on Tuesday called the warnings “unfounded speculation and an irrational clampdown” stemming from a Cold War mentality. “We hope the U.S. will provide a level-playing field for Chinese companies’ investment and operation in the U.S. and do something conducive to the mutual trust,” he said.
China’s stock market has fallen nearly 10 percent in recent weeks on fears of a trade war while its currency has dropped sharply against the U.S. dollar.
In comments Tuesday, central bank governor Yi Gang said the yuan’s 3 percent depreciation over the past two weeks reflects a strengthening of the U.S. dollar and “the effect of external uncertainties.” The yuan, whose exchange rate is tightly controlled, is at its lowest level against the dollar since December.
Trump has accused China of unfairly acquiring U.S. technology through coercion and theft and limiting market access for U.S. finance and technology firms — claims that China denies. China accuses Washington of protectionism, pointing to the struggles of Chinese companies like China Mobile and telecom equipment maker ZTE, which briefly shut down in April after the Department of Commerce temporarily banned it from purchasing U.S. chips.