China hopes to “properly manage differences” with the US on trade matters

BEIJING – China is emphasizing its willingness to negotiate as increasing tariffs on exports to the United States could soon become a reality.

president of the united states donald trump said this week that he can increase tariffs on Chinese products by 10% as soon as February 1st. The White House also announced on Monday plans to investigate China for actions harmful to US trade.

China’s Ministry of Commerce has always maintained communication with “relevant” US economic and trade authorities, ministry spokesman He Yadong said Thursday.

“The Chinese side hopes that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, both sides… will strengthen dialogue and communication, properly manage differences, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and promote the stable and healthy development of the economy and trade between China and the United States,” he added during a weekly press conference. That’s according to a CNBC translation of his Mandarin comments.

Trump said last week that he spoke with the Chinese president Xi Jinping by phone about TikTok and commerce. The Chinese side’s readout did not mention the social media app, but said Xi called for cooperation and described the two countries’ economic ties as mutually beneficial.

“Tariffs are not in favor of China or the United States or the entire world,” said Commerce spokesman He.

“China is willing to work with the United States to push bilateral economic and trade relations in a stable, healthy and sustainable direction,” he said, noting that this is based on “mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation.” .

The comments echoed those of Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning on Tuesday.

“We are willing to maintain communication with the United States, properly manage differences, expand mutually beneficial cooperation and seek stable, healthy and sustainable development of the China-U.S. relationship,” Mao said when asked about the negotiations on duty.

“China will also firmly defend its own interests,” he said. That’s according to an official English transcript.

Even if 10% tariffs are imposed on China, that is far less than the original 60% that Trump had proposed during his campaign.

Hours after his inauguration on Monday, Trump reiterated Plans for 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canadawithout specifying figure for China. He said only that higher tariffs could be used to force Beijing-based ByteDance to sell the social media app TikTok, whose future availability in the United States is now in doubt.

When asked about TikTok on Thursday, Chinese trade spokesman He said China “hopes the US side will listen more to the voices of businesses and the public” and “do more things conducive to economic and trade cooperation.” between China and the United States. and the well-being of the people.”