THE United States is going back on its word and undermining its credibility by announcing trade measures against China, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said yesterday.

“When it comes to international relations, a country undermines and squanders its credibility by willfully changing its attitude and going back on its word,” Hua said at a daily news conference.

The United States “will impose a 25-percent tariff on US$50 billion of goods imported from China containing industrially significant technology, with a list to be released by June 15, including those related to the ‘Made in China 2025’ program,” among other measures, according to a statement issued Tuesday by the White House.

The announcement came just ahead of U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross’ planned visit to China, which will start Saturday, for further talks on trade.

The statement goes against the consensus the two countries reached in Washington and jointly announced earlier in May, Hua said, urging the U.S. to keep its word and work with China according to the spirit demonstrated in the joint announcement.

“China does not want, but is not afraid of, a trade war,” Hua said. “China will surely take resolute and powerful steps to safeguard its legitimate rights if the U.S. insists on acting recklessly.”

Hua also called for handling trade disputes through talks on an equal basis and in a constructive way, which is “in line with the fundamental and long-term interests of both the Chinese and American people, as well as the common aspirations of the international community.”

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Commerce said that the U.S. statement is contrary to the consensuses the two sides had previously reached in Washington.

The ministry said the White House’s tactical statement is both unexpected and within expectation.

“Whatever measures the United States takes, China has the confidence, capability and experience to defend the interests of the Chinese people and the core interests of the country,” the MOC said on its website.

China urged the United States to act in accordance with the spirit of the recent bilateral joint statement, the MOC said.

(Xinhua)