The Chinese Embassy to the United States has strongly denounced the Biden administration’s recent decision to maintain and increase tariffs on a range of Chinese imports, stating that the move violates World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and international law.
In a statement on Wednesday, the embassy said the new tariffs, which target products including electric vehicles, solar cells, semiconductors, and certain steel and aluminum goods, will significantly drive up the cost of imported goods and inflict more losses on American companies and consumers.
The announcement comes after President Joe Biden completed a review of China’s trade practices under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The review resulted in plans to maintain current tariffs on Chinese imports and increase tariffs on additional products.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy stated that the WTO has already determined that the U.S.’s use of Section 301 tariffs against China violates WTO rules and international law. “As one of the founders of the WTO, the U.S. has not only failed to be a role model in complying with WTO rules, but taken the lead in breaching them,” the spokesperson said.
The embassy accused the U.S. of politicizing economic issues to maintain its “unipolar hegemony” and claimed that the actions taken against China do not prove the strength of the U.S., but rather reveal its lack of confidence.
“The move by the U.S. is typical protectionism, political maneuvering and hegemonic bullying. It goes against Biden’s words of ‘not seeking to contain China’s development’ or ‘not seeking to decouple with China,'” the spokesperson said, adding that the move “severely undermines the atmosphere of bilateral cooperation.”
The embassy urged the U.S. to “earnestly abide by WTO rules and immediately revoke the tariff increase,” warning that China will take “all necessary measures to safeguard its rights and interests.”
