China's top envoy called on the U.S. to remain “cool-headed” on Thursday as Washington threatened to raise the tariff rate on the next $200 billion of Chinese imports.
Slapping additional tariffs on Chinese imports — 60% of which are made by foreign firms, including American companies — will only raise costs for domestic U.S. consumers, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
“We hope that the trade policymakers in the U.S. will be cool-headed and listen to the voice of U.S. consumers... and also pay attention to the voice in the international community,” Mr. Wang said.
“The U.S. has no regard for the world... playing both soft and hard ball with China will not have any effect, and only serve to disappoint the countries and territories opposed to a trade war,” China's Ministry of Commerce said in a statement, adding it still hopes to turn the situation around.
President Donald Trump asked the U.S. Trade Representative to consider increasing the proposed tariffs to 25% from the planned 10%, USTR Robert Lighthizer said on Wednesday.
‘Harmful behaviour’
“We have been very clear about the specific changes China should undertake. Regrettably, instead of changing its harmful behaviour, China has illegally retaliated against U.S. workers, farmers, ranchers and businesses,” Mr. Lighthizer said.
Officials, however, downplayed suggestions the move was intended to compensate for the recent decline in the value of the Chinese currency, which has threatened to take much of the sting out of Mr. Trump’s tariffs by making imports cheaper.
The U.S. dollar has been strengthening since April as the Central Bank has been raising lending rates, which draws investors looking for higher returns.
Washington and Beijing are locked in battle over American accusations that China’s export economy benefits from unfair policies and subsidies, as well as theft of American technological know-how.
Most exports targeted
Mr. Trump has threatened to slap tariffs on virtually all of China’s exports to the U.S.
Officials said they remained in regular contact with their Chinese counterparts but could announce no new meeting.
Mr. Wang, who is in Singapore for a Foreign Ministers’ meeting, said the spat will not affect diplomatic cooperation with Washington on North Korea. In a tweet last month, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that China could be undermining a North Korean denuclearisation deal because of the ongoing trade war.
