Regarding the Biden administration's recent frequent restrictions on Chinese companies and increased tariffs on Chinese goods, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Conda told Phoenix TV reporters on the 14th that the Biden administration does not want to escalate the trade war with China, but to defend the interests of American workers and businesses and ensure a fair relationship between China and the United States. In addition, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai denied on the 14th that the tariffs were related to the U.S. election, and also denied that raising tariffs on China would worsen U.S. inflation.
The U.S. assistant secretary of state denied that the Biden administration had escalated the trade war with China
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, who has visited China twice recently, expounded the Biden administration's Indo-Pacific policy and China policy at the Brookings Institution on the 14th.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Conda:
We believe it's important to engage in direct intensive diplomacy with China, and as I have described today, our China strategy is broader than just engagement with China.
Over the past week, the Biden administration has introduced a series of restrictive measures against Chinese companies, including revoking some chip export licenses to Huawei, adding 37 Chinese entities to the sanctions list, and announcing an increase in tariffs on $18 billion of Chinese goods on the 14th.
The US media pointed out that Biden not only did not repeal some of the tariffs on China during the Trump era as promised, but also took tougher measures against China. In response, Conda denied that the Biden administration was escalating the trade war.
Phoenix TV reporter Wang Bingru:
As you mentioned, intense competition requires intense diplomacy, but what we've seen recently is that the U.S. is engaged in intensive diplomacy with China, accompanied by severe sanctions and tariffs on China. I want to know, is the Biden administration escalating the trade war with China? Does this complicate your diplomatic efforts with China?
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Conda:
The answer is no, what are we focusing on? Our focus is on protecting U.S. businesses, U.S. workers, and the U.S. economy from China's unfair trade practices. Here's what we're doing. We have also made this clear in our diplomatic engagements, and the economic relationship between the United States and China remains important. We focus on the relationship, but we also want to make sure it's fair.
Kangda also pointed out that 50% of the world's container transportation has to pass through the Taiwan Strait, and 90% of the world's high-end chips come from Taiwan, which will have a significant impact on the world if peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are threatened. Therefore, the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy focuses on maintaining stability in the Taiwan Strait and maintaining the status quo.
The U.S. side denied that raising tariffs on China would worsen U.S. inflation
Biden announced on the 14th that he would increase tariffs on about $18 billion in Chinese goods in the White House Rose Garden, with the largest increase being China's electric vehicles, which will rise from 25% to 100%, and the tariffs on semiconductors and solar cells will be increased from 25% to 50%, the tariffs on steel and aluminum products will be increased from 7.5% to 25%, and medical products including syringes and needles will be subject to 50% tariffs.
This is an election year in the United States, and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai has flatly denied that some trade experts have pointed out that the political calendar may be a consideration for the timing and scope of tariff announcements, pointing out that it is a decision by the U.S. government to complete the investigation process in accordance with the process. In addition, Dai Qi also claimed that the U.S. government's behavior of subsidizing new energy vehicles in the United States is not the same as China's.
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai:
Today, China accounts for 55% of the world's steel capacity, 60% of aluminum, 60% of electric vehicles, 80% of solar energy, and 85%-95% of certain critical minerals. The purpose of these subsidies is to monopolize the world market, to achieve dominance and to create dependency. The support provided by the US government is defensive in nature, and is aimed at creating space for competition and survival of US enterprises.
After the decision was announced, the National Retail Federation called on Biden to remove the tariffs, otherwise American consumers will continue to fight inflation and pay for the high tariffs. But Tai denied the impact of tariffs on U.S. inflation from tariffs on China.
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai:
I think the link between tariffs and prices has been denied, and I would say that the president has directed us to focus on making our supply chains more resilient, which means we need more choice, and that means we need to share more manufacturing capacity in the United States.
In addition, Dai Qi said that the U.S. government is extremely concerned about the possibility that Chinese electric vehicles may be re-exported to the United States through the construction of a factory in Mexico in the future, and is discussing countermeasures with the industry and partners.
China's Ministry of Commerce: China firmly opposes the US imposition of tariffs on China
In response to the U.S. announcement to raise tariffs on a series of Chinese imports, including electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic cells, China's Ministry of Commerce responded on the 14th that China firmly opposes it and makes solemn representations.
China criticizes the "overcapacity theory" of the United States: naked bullying and domineering
In response to the U.S. government's announcement that it will impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and other products, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin responded on the 14th that China has always opposed unilateral tariffs in violation of WTO rules and will take all necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests. In response to US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's recent remarks about China's so-called "overcapacity" and accusing the Chinese government of providing subsidies to companies involved in this issue, Wang Wenbin pointed out that the US side's statement is naked bullying and bullying.
Source: Phoenix Satellite TV Wang Bingru and Wang Tianyi report from Washington
Editor: Mu Mu