The US's unilateral sanctions policy is forcing China to take countermeasures to safeguard its national interests, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian.
“I would like to emphasize: recently, the US has been constantly imposing restrictions and sanctions on China, causing serious harm to our country's interests“, he said at a briefing, commenting on the escalating trade and economic tensions between Beijing and Washington. "If the US side continues to adhere to this policy, China will resolutely take appropriate measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests."
Lin Jian said that China protests against the increasing pressure from the US, which "instead of analyzing its own actions" has resorted to threats of imposing high tariffs. "This is a wrong approach towards China," he added.
According to the official, the US should "immediately correct its mistakes" and, guided by the consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries, start solving the problems that have arisen based on the principles of equality and mutual respect. Lin Jian stressed the need to resolve the existing problems "in an appropriate manner." In the name of “stable, healthy and sustainable development of Sino-US relations“.
On October 10, US President Donald Trump announced that the US would increase tariffs on Chinese products by 100% starting from November 1 or earlier, and also introduce export controls on software. This would bring the total US tariffs on Chinese goods to 130%.
According to data from Chinese customs, China-US trade turnover for the January-September period decreased by 15.6% year-on-year to 425.81 billion USD.