China fully ready to defend interests, has 'kept promises' on US trade deal: commerce ministry

[BEIJING] China said on Thursday that it has kept its promises in trade talks with the United States as it rejected US accusations of backtracking on commitments. It is also fully prepared to defend its interests in its trade war with the US, but hopes the US can resolve problems through dialogue instead of unilateral steps, the Chinese commerce ministry said.

"The US has assigned a lot of labels, such as backtracking, going back on one's word, and so on. Lots of promises have been foisted on China," commerce ministry spokesman Gao Feng said at a regular press briefing.

"The Chinese side has kept its promises and this has never changed," he added.

The comments came as a Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier Liu He is set to hold talks in Washington on Thursday and Friday aimed at salvaging a deal that appeared to be unravelling after US officials accused China of backtracking on earlier commitments and US President Donald Trump threatened to hike tariffs on Chinese goods on Friday.

Speaking to reporters in Beijing, Mr Gao said China has the determination and capacity to defend its interests, but hopes the US can meet it halfway.

"China's attitude has been consistent, and China will not succumb to any pressure," Mr Gao said. "China has made preparations to respond to all kinds of possible outcomes."

He did not elaborate.

The US Trade Representative's office said tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods would rise to 25 percent from 10 percent at 12.01am (0401 GMT) on Friday.

These include chemicals, building materials, furniture and some consumer electronics.

The US tariff action would come in the middle of the meetings in Washington.

Mr Trump also threatened on Sunday to levy tariffs on an additional US$325 billion of China's goods, on top of the US$250 billion of its products already hit by import taxes.

Until last weekend, when a deep rift opened up over the language of the proposed accord, there had been strong expectations that the two sides would reach a deal to de-escalate a tariff war that broke out last year.

Reaching a deal required effort from both sides, Mr Gao said, adding that China had demonstrated its sincerity by sending its negotiators to Washington despite the US threat to raise tariffs.

Trade negotiations are a long process, and it is normal to have disagreements, Mr Gao said, adding that China is willing to continue talks with the United States to resolve their trade dispute.

While the United States wants to reduce the scale of its trade deficit with China, it is also seeking better protection for American intellectual property and more market access in China for US companies.

Mr Gao described accusations about Chinese firms stealing tech secrets as unreasonable and said they were not based on facts.

CHINESE RETALIATION

Since July last year, China has cumulatively imposed countertariffs of up to 25 per cent on about US$110 billion of US products. It last levied tariffs, of 5 per cent to 10 per cent, on US$60 billion of US goods including liquefied natural gas and small aircraft in September.

Based on 2018 US Census Bureau trade data, China would only have about US$10 billion in US imports left to levy in retaliation for any future US tariffs, including crude oil and large aircraft.

Chinese state media on Thursday published and aired reports quoting US-based organisations and individuals critical of Trump's decision to raise tariffs, though downplaying the impact of higher US tariffs on the Chinese economy.

"China is well-prepared for an escalation in trade tensions. A variety of plans are in place, such as countermeasures for any tariff rise, and favourable policies to minimise losses for Chinese enterprises," the Global Times, a tabloid published by the ruling Communist Party's People's Daily, said in an editorial.

"Mentally and materially, China is much better prepared than its US counterpart."

China's blue-chip CSI300 index has slumped about 7 per cent so far this month on the renewed trade tensions. That compares with a smaller decline of about 2 per cent in the benchmark S&P 500 index.

The Chinese yuan has also retreated to a four-month low against the dollar, crossing the psychologically key 6.80 level.

REUTERS, AFP