BEIJING — BEIJING (AP) — China signaled Sunday it would not back down in a confrontation 100% tariff threat From President Donald Trump, urging the United States to resolve differences through negotiations rather than threats.
“China’s position is consistent,” the Commerce Ministry said in a statement posted online. “We don’t want a tariff war, but we’re not afraid of it.”
The response came two days after Trump threatened to raise taxes on imports from China by November 1 in response New Chinese restrictions On the export of rare earth elements, a major component of many consumer and military products.
Back and forth It threatens to go off track A possible meeting between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping and an end to the truce in the tariff war in which new tariffs on both sides briefly exceeded 100% in April.
Trump has raised taxes on imports from several US trading partners this year, seeking concessions in exchange for tariff reductions. China was one of the few countries that did not back down, relying on its economic influence.
“Repeatedly resorting to the threat of high tariffs is not the right way to get along with China,” the Commerce Department said in its online post, which was presented as a series of answers from an unnamed spokesperson to questions from unspecified media outlets.
The statement called for addressing any concerns through dialogue.
“If the US side stubbornly insists on its practices, China will be sure to resolutely take corresponding measures to protect 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 “has become very hostile” and is holding the world captive by restricting access to rare earth minerals and magnets.
New regulations in China require foreign companies to obtain special approval to export items containing even small traces of rare earth elements sourced from China. These important minerals are needed in a wide range of products, from jet engines, radar systems and electric vehicles to consumer electronics including laptops and phones.
China accounts for approximately 70% of the world’s rare earth extraction and controls approximately 90% of the world’s rare earth processing. Access to material is a major point of contention Trade talks between Washington and Beijing.
The ministry’s statement stated that export licenses would be granted for legitimate civilian uses, noting that the minerals also have military applications.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce circular said the United States has imposed several new restrictions in recent weeks, including increasing the number of Chinese companies subject to US export controls.
She also said the United States was ignoring Chinese concerns by moving ahead with new port fees on Chinese ships that take effect on Tuesday. China Announced Friday It would impose port fees on American ships in response.