New episode of the trade war opened on several fronts by American president Donald Trump. The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi promised this Friday, March 7, that his country would “firmly” respond “firmly” to the measures decided by the tenant of the White House, who imposed a salvo of customs duties on products imported from China.
At a press conference on the sidelines of the annual parliamentary session in Beijing, Wang Yi warned that the “jungle law” could reign in the world if the nations only pursued their own interests. He defended the Sino-American cooperation in the fight against anti-crop, especially on fentanyl. It is in the name of a collaboration deemed insufficient in this area that Washington has imposed additional customs duties on Chinese products.
“China, animated by a humanitarian spirit, has provided its help several times in the United States. The latter should not respond with ingratitude, and even less by imposing unjustified taxes,” said Chinese Foreign Minister, “there are about 190 countries around the world,” he added. “Imagine if each country emphasized its own priority and believed in (its) force and (its) status, the world would pay in the law of the jungle.”
The current American policy “is not that of a large responsible country,” said Wang Yi. “If the cooperation is chosen, it can lead to a reciprocal benefit, but if the pressure continues, China will respond firmly,” said Chinese diplomacy chief.
Negotiations on Ukraine
The minister also called for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, invaded by the Russian forces on February 24, 2022, arguing that “there is no winner in a conflict, and there is no loser in a negotiation”. “The negotiating table is both the end of the conflict and the starting point for peace, he said. China greets and supports every effort in favor of peace.”
In the same register, the minister called on “the great powers” to “promote a total and sustainable cease-fire in Gaza and increase humanitarian aid” in coastal territory, where a truce has been in force since January 19 between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas. The Minister spoke on the sidelines of the “two sessions”, the annual political event which brings together thousands of delegates in Beijing, from all over China to participate in the annual meetings of the Parliament and a consultative assembly.
American customs duties should have repercussions on hundreds of billions of euros in trade between the two largest world economies. China has already replied by announcing taxes of up to 15 % on a range of American agricultural products, including soy, pork and wheat, effective from March 10. This targeted response remains more moderate, however, than the taxes imposed by American president Donald Trump, who target all Chinese products.