A spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said that China strongly opposes any agreement between the United States and its trading partners that would be made at the expense of Chinese interests.
If such a situation arises, China will not accept it and will definitely take appropriate countermeasures, the spokesman said in a statement, adding that the country has both the determination and the capability to protect its legitimate rights and interests.
These words were spoken in response to reports that the United States is preparing to pressure other countries to reduce trade ties with China in exchange for tariff exemptions.
Under the guise of so-called "reciprocity", the United States has recently been arbitrarily imposing tariffs on all of its trading partners while pressuring them to enter into so-called "reciprocal tariff negotiations", the spokesman said.
"In fact, it is using the notion of 'reciprocity' as a pretext to pursue hegemonic policies and unilateral intimidation in the field of international economics and trade," he further said.
The spokesman stressed that concessions do not bring peace, compromise does not lead to respect, and efforts to trade the interests of others for tariff exemptions are doomed to failure and will ultimately harm all parties involved.
China, he said, respects all those who seek to resolve their trade disputes with the United States through equal dialogue, and called on all parties to stand on the side of justice, stand on the right side of history and defend international trade rules and the multilateral trading system.
The spokesman added that in the era of unilateralism and protectionism, no country can remain untouched:
"Once international trade reverts to the law of the jungle, where the strong eat the weak, all countries will suffer," He said.
He added that China is ready to work with all parties to strengthen solidarity and coordination, jointly oppose unilateral intimidation, protect legitimate rights and interests, and uphold international justice and equality.
CMG/gnews.cz
