China warned on Friday that it will “sharply counter-attack” the US tariff measures. The government said it is prepared to pay the price of a trade war that, although it does not want, is not afraid, reports the “Agência Brasil”.
“If the United States persists in its behavior of unilateralism and trade protectionism, ignoring the Chinese opposition and the international community, China will continue to the end at any cost and will strongly counterattack,” the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement.
The Chinese authorities reacted in this way to the decision of US President Donald Trump, who announced today that he plans to impose $ 100 billion in tariffs on China, in addition to the $ 50 billion already announced for hundreds of Chinese products, in response to the tariffs with which Beijing punished Washington this week.
“We do not want a trade war, but we do not fear it,” the Commerce Ministry reiterated, adding that Washington’s actions will be followed. “Undoubtedly,” new measures will be taken “to defend with force the interest of the country and the people,” he added.
After again criticizing Trump’s protectionism against free trade, China reaffirmed that it will continue with its reform and opening up, the protection of the multilateral trading system and the facilitation of global investment.
As I have warned, Beijing yesterday formally submitted to the World Trade Organization (WTO) a complaint against the US on the tariffs imposed on Chinese products, claiming that these charges exceed the interest rates bound by Washington and are inconsistent with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (Gaat).
The growing tension between the two economic powers has prompted the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, to insist on the need for dialogue, hours before traveling to China, where he will participate in the Boao Forum, a meeting of leaders economic and political issues considered the “Asian Davos”.