Q: On May 14,the US side has released the four-year review results of the China section of 301 tariffs. President Biden announced that the US will further raise tariffs on Chinese automobiles, lithium batteries, solar cells, critical minerals and semi-conductors. What is your response?

A: The US side, using its 301 tariff review in an arbitrary way, decided to step up 301 tariffs on certain imports from China. Instead of correcting its wrong practices, the US is going further down a wrong path. China is gravely concerned about the US moves. 

The WTO has drawn a clear conclusion that the U.S.’s Section 301 tariffs violate WTO rules and international law. The US move harms others without benefiting oneself. It will only significantly drive up the cost of imported goods, inflict more loss on American companies and consumers, and make the US consumers pay even more. As one of the founders of the WTO, the United States has not only failed to be a role model in complying with WTO rules, but taken the lead in breaching them. By so doing, the US can hardly embody the “fair competition” it champions, nor can it keep its credibility in the international community.

Over the past weeks and months, the United States, to secure its unipolar supremacy, has used trade issues as an instrument for political purposes. It has frequently imposed unilateral sanctions, abused the Section 301 tariff review process, and waged a campaign against China’s normal trade, economic and technological activities that borders on madness. Taking unscrupulous actions against China does not prove the strength of the United States, but only reveals that the US has lost self-confidence. It does not solve the U.S.’s own problems, but will further impede the normal functioning of global industrial and supply chains. It will not stop China’s development and rejuvenation, but will only spur the Chinese people to forge ahead with greater determination.

The latest move by the US is typical unilateralism, political maneuvering and hegemonic bullying. It runs counter to President Biden’s words of “not seeking to contain China’s development” and “not seeking to decouple with China”. It contradicts the spirit of mutual understandings between the two Presidents and severely undermines the atmosphere of bilateral cooperation. 

We urge the US side to earnestly abide by WTO rules, and immediately revoke the tariff increase. China will do whatever necessary to defend its own interests.