CHINA yesterday unveiled a list of products imported from the United States worth US$50 billion that will be subject to higher tariffs, including soybeans, automobiles and chemical products.

The Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council has decided to impose additional tariffs of 25 percent on 106 items of products under 14 categories, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said in a statement on its website.

The move was taken after the U.S. administration announced a proposed list of products subject to additional tariffs, which covers Chinese exports worth US$50 billion with a suggested tariff rate of 25 percent.

The date of implementation will depend on when the U.S. Government imposes the tariffs on Chinese products, the MOF said.

China yesterday filed a request for consultations under the WTO dispute settlement framework over the U.S. tariff hike proposals based on the Section 301 investigation against it, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said.

The U.S. move “severely infringed on the legitimate rights and interests that China enjoys in accordance with the WTO rules, and threatened China’s economic interests and security,” the MOC said.

Affected products will include a wide variety of agricultural products such as soybeans, corn, beef, orange juice and tobacco. A range of chemicals and automobiles, as well as aircraft with unladen weight between 15 tons and 45 tons, will also be subject to the tariffs.

Both countries should stay rational and manage differences in a constructive manner, the MOF added.

China urged the United States to abandon trade tariffs and return to dialogue, consultation and win-win cooperation, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang told a daily press briefing yesterday.

“Those who attempt to make China surrender through pressure or intimidation have never succeeded before and will not succeed now,” he said.

Geng said China has showed sincerity in seeking solutions through dialogue, “however, the United States has repeatedly missed the best opportunities for an appropriate resolution.”

There is no winner in a trade war, he said, adding the U.S. tariff proposals hurt the interests of the United States first.

The United States, with the world’s leading technology and manufacturing capabilities, should be more confident, and compete fairly, rather than imposing unilateralist, protectionist measures, said the spokesperson.

The European Union (EU) does not support measures that run counter to WTO law, Daniel Rosario, its spokesman said yesterday.

The Office of U.S. Trade Representative on Tuesday published a proposed list of Chinese goods subject to additional 25 percent tariffs. The proposed list covers approximately 1,300 products imported from China, including industries such as aerospace, information and communication technology, robotics and machinery.

The list, which will undergo further review in a public notice and comment process, is based on a so-called Section 301 investigation into alleged Chinese intellectual property and technology transfer practices, launched by the Trump administration in August 2017.

(Xinhua)

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