China’s reactions to the USA additional 10-percent tariff - Portnet

The United States has announced that it will impose an additional 10-percent tariff on products imported from China, effective from March 4. ICYMD:
Here are China’s reactions:

China suspends soybean imports from 3 U.S. companies.

China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC) on Tuesday announced the suspension of soybean imports from three U.S. enterprises after ergot and seed coating agent were detected in soybeans imported from the United States.
Soybean export qualification of the three U.S. companies — CHS Inc., Louis Dreyfus Company Grains Merchandising LLC and EGT, LLC — will be suspended, effective from March 4, the GAC said in a statement.
The move was aimed at safeguarding the health of Chinese consumers and ensuring the safety of imported grain, and was made in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations and relevant regulations of the World Trade Organization, according to the statement.

China adds 10 U.S. firms to unreliable entity list

China decided on Tuesday to add 10 U.S. firms, including TCOM, Limited Partnership, to the country’s unreliable entity list and take corresponding measures against them.
From Tuesday onward, China will prohibit these companies from engaging in import and export activities related to China, and these companies will also be banned from making new investments within the country, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Commerce.
The 10 U.S. firms are TCOM, Limited Partnership, Stick Rudder Enterprises LLC, Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc., Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc., S3 AeroDefense, Cubic Corporation, TextOre, ACT1 Federal, Exovera and Planate Management Group.
The decision was made to maintain China’s national sovereignty, security and development interests and in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, the statement noted.

China adds 15 U.S. firms to export control list

China announced on Tuesday that it has decided to add 15 U.S. entities that endanger its national security and interests to its export control list.
Effective from Tuesday onward, the export of dual-use items to these 15 firms, including Leidos, Gibbs&Cox, Inc., and IP Video Market Info, Inc., will be prohibited, while any ongoing related export activities must be stopped immediately, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
The ministry added that in exceptional cases where export is deemed necessary, the exporter must apply for approval.
The decision was made in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations, a spokesperson with the ministry said in a statement — stressing that no exporter shall be allowed to violate these control measures.

U.S. firm Illumina, Inc. banned from exporting gene sequencers to China

The U.S. company Illumina, Inc. has been banned from exporting gene sequencers to China, the Ministry of Commerce announced Tuesday.
The measure, effective immediately, follows China’s move to add the company to its unreliable entity list on Feb. 4, according to the ministry.
The statement noted that the measure was introduced to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and in line with relevant laws and regulations.
China added the company to the unreliable entity list after the company was found to have violated normal market trading principles, terminated regular trade with Chinese companies, and adopted discriminatory measures against Chinese companies, thus causing serious harm to their legitimate rights and interests.

China initiates legal action against U.S. via WTO dispute settlement mechanism

China has initiated legal action against the United States under the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement mechanism regarding the latter’s latest tariff increase on Chinese products, the Ministry of Commerce said Tuesday.
Noting that the unilateral imposition of tariffs by the United States violates WTO rules and undermines the foundation of China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation, the ministry said China expresses strong dissatisfaction with and firm opposition to the U.S. move.
China will resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests in accordance with WTO rules, and defend the multilateral trading system and the international economic and trade order, the ministry added.

China to impose additional tariff on some U.S. products

China will impose additional tariffs on some products imported from the United States, effective from March 10, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council said Tuesday.
An additional 15-percent tariff will be imposed on imported chicken, wheat, corn and cotton originating from the United States, according to a statement from the commission.
Sorghum, soybeans, pork, beef, aquatic products, fruits, vegetables and dairy products will be subject to an additional 10-percent tariff.

Chinese spokesperson makes remarks on white paper on fentanyl control

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Tuesday said a white paper on China’s contribution to controlling fentanyl-related substances gave an authoritative review of the tremendous work the country has done, the innovative steps it has taken and its experience in this field.
The white paper, released by the State Council Information Office on Tuesday, covers the following aspects: ensuring supervision over fentanyl-related medications, striking hard against fentanyl-related crimes, enforcing strict control over precursors of fentanyl-related substances, accelerating technology research, development, and application, adopting comprehensive measures for more efficient drug control, and promoting global governance of fentanyl-related substances.
The spokesperson said the document will help people from various sectors and the international community to understand China’s position, measures and achievements in this field “in a full, in-depth and objective way.”
With a vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, China always earnestly fulfills its international obligations in drug control and participates in international counternarcotics affairs in an in-depth manner, stays fully committed to advancing the global governance of drug control, and makes relentless effort to work with other countries in the joint response to the new challenge posed by the fentanyl issue, the spokesperson said.
“What has been achieved is there for all to see,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson pointed out that the United States is spreading all kinds of false information on the fentanyl issue, smearing and scapegoating China, and hiking tariffs on Chinese imports over fentanyl. “Such move is unjustified and will do no one good,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson noted that China stands ready for practical cooperation with the United States based on equality and mutual respect.
“That said, we firmly oppose the U.S. pressuring, threatening and blackmailing China under the pretext of the fentanyl issue. We urge the U.S. to respect facts, bear in mind its own interest and make the right choice,” the spokesperson said.

U.S. should work with China to resolve trade disputes through equal-footed consultation: spokesperson

The United States should work with China in the same direction to resolve trade disputes through equal-footed consultation, a Chinese spokesperson said Tuesday.
Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for the third session of the 14th National People’s Congress, China’s national legislature, made the remarks at a press conference.
Commenting on the U.S. decision to impose an additional 10-percent tariff on goods imported from China again, Lou said the U.S. unilateral tariff move violated the World Trade Organization rules, and disrupted the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains.
China stands ready to work with the United States to address each other’s concerns through dialogue and consultation on the basis of mutual respect, equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit, but “will never accept any act of pressuring or threatening,” Lou said.
“We will firmly defend our national sovereignty, security and development interests,” he said.
China hopes the U.S. side can return to the path of resolving problems through dialogue and consultation, he said.
China-U.S. economic and trade ties are mutually beneficial, and bilateral trade and investment have brought tangible benefits to both peoples and greatly promoted the development of the global economy, Lou said.
A stable, sound and sustainable China-U.S. relationship is in the interests of both countries and meets the expectations of the international community, he said.
China is also willing to enhance cooperation with other countries to safeguard the multilateral trading system, oppose unilateralism and protectionism, and promote universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, Lou said.
Source: TIAN Dongdong from CrossPacificWatchers