Want no tariff war but not afraid of one: China after Trump’s 100 pc threat

Beijing has signalled that it will not back down in the face of a 100 per cent tariff threat from US President Donald Trump, urging Washington to resolve differences through negotiations instead of threats.

“China’s stance is consistent,” the country’s commerce ministry said in a statement posted online. “We do not want a tariff war but we are not afraid of one.”

The response came on Sunday (October 12), two days after Trump threatened to jack up the tax on imports from China by November 1 in response to new Chinese restrictions on the export of rare earths, a key ingredient for many consumer and military products.

Also read: Trump slaps extra 100% tariff on China; might scrap talks with Xi Jinping

Frequent threats not right: China

The back and forth threatens to derail a possible meeting between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping and end a truce in a tariff war in which new tariffs from both sides briefly topped 100 per cent in April.

Trump has raised taxes on imports from many US trading partners this year, seeking to win concessions in return for tariff reductions. China has been one of the few countries that hasn’t backed down, relying on its economic clout.

“Frequently resorting to the threat of high tariffs is not the correct way to get along with China,” the commerce ministry said in its online post, which was presented as a series of answers from an unnamed spokesperson to questions from unspecified media outlets.

Beijing calls for dialogue

The statement called for addressing any concerns through dialogue.

“If the US side obstinately insists on its practice, China will be sure to resolutely take corresponding measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests,” the post said.

Both sides accuse the other of violating the spirit of the truce by imposing new restrictions on trade.

Trump said China is “becoming very hostile” and that it’s holding the world captive by restricting access to rare earth metals and magnets.

Also read: Trump to meet Xi in four weeks, vows relief for US farmers amid tariff war

Fight over rare earths

China’s new regulations require foreign companies to get special approval to export items that contain even small traces of rare earths elements sourced from China.

These critical minerals are needed in a broad range of products, from jet engines, radar systems and electric vehicles to consumer electronics including laptops and phones.

China accounts for nearly 70 per cent of the world’s rare earths mining and controls roughly 90 per cent of global rare earths processing. Access to the material is a key point of contention in trade talks between Washington and Beijing.

New US restrictions

The ministry post said export licenses would be granted for legitimate civilian uses, noting that the minerals also have military applications.

It added that the US has introduced several new restrictions in recent weeks, including expanding the number of Chinese companies subject to US export controls.

It also said the US was ignoring Chinese concerns by going forward with new port fees on Chinese ships that take effect Tuesday. China announced Friday that it would impose port fees on American ships in response.

(With agency inputs)