Donald Trump warns China of a new war, China unmoved
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Washington is expected to soon announce investigations into how China tackles copyright protection, protectionism and market access. President Donald Trump reportedly intents to use a provision in the Trade Act of 1974, which would allow him to slap tariffs and other barriers on Chinese products while circumventing the World Trade Organization (WTO) mechanisms for redressing grievances.
A White House announcement of the measures was expected Friday but has been postponed.
US ‘bullying tactics’
The Chinese reaction to the anticipated investigations was calm. Beijing’s commerce ministry said Thursday that China was willing to work with the US to settle their differences, saying trade benefited both parties.
"The China-US trade relationship is… mutually beneficial. Cooperation would benefit both sides and fighting would hurt both," ministry spokesman Gao Feng told journalists.
He added that conflicts over trade practices should be resolved through the WTO and downplayed the concern over China’s handling of intellectual property rights of foreign companies.
Chinese state media, which often relays Beijing’s position in more strong terms, was more forthcoming. In an editorial, the China Daily warned the US against politicizing bilateral trade, addressing the connection made by Trump between the economy and what he called Beijing’s failure to help in solving the North Korean question.
“Imposing tariffs and restrictions on Chinese imports would serve the interests of neither side, since China will have no choice but to take retaliatory measures, thus paving the way for a trade war,” the newspaper cautioned. “Both sides should work hard to avoid that damaging eventuality.”
The Global Times, the tabloid off-shoot of the official People’s Daily, ran expert commentary which called the US' tactics “bullying”.
"This is bully negotiating tactics from Trump, trying to pressure China into meeting its unreasonable demands that only benefit the US," Mei Xinyu, an associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the commerce ministry, told the newspaper.
"China is not what it was two decades ago. Today, we are the world's second-largest economy and largest trading nation. There are many tools we can use to deal with the US." -RT
