Embassy blasts U.S. multi-billion dollar tariffs on Chinese imports

China's embassy in the United States released a statement on Thursday saying that China is disappointed with the move by President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 60 billion U.S. dollars on imports from China.

A screenshot of the Chinese-language statement released by China's embassy in the United States. [Photo: China Plus]

The embassy said it firmly opposes what it describes as the "unilateral trade protectionist action" by the Trump administration, after President Trump signed a memorandum regarding the tariffs on Thursday at the White House.

In the statement, the embassy said that "China does not want a trade war with anyone. But China is not afraid of and will not recoil from a trade war... If a trade war was initiated by the United States, China would fight to the end to defend its own legitimate interests with all necessary measures."

The full text of the English-language statement from the embassy is as follows:

The United States persisted in conducting the "301 investigation" and announced relevant trade measures, ignoring rational voices, and in disregard of the mutually-beneficial nature of China-U.S. trade relations and the consensus reached by the two countries of managing differences constructively through consultations. It is a typical unilateral trade protectionist action. China is strongly disappointed and firmly opposes such an action.

Bearing in mind the principles of mutual respect and win-win cooperation, China has demonstrated sincerity in making reasonable suggestions to the U.S., and has made great efforts to address the current trade imbalance between China and the U.S. China does not want a trade war with anyone. But China is not afraid of and will not recoil from a trade war. China is confident and capable of facing any challenge. If a trade war were initiated by the U.S., China would fight to the end to defend its own legitimate interests with all necessary measures.

The actions undertaken by the U.S. are self-defeating. They will directly harm the interests of U.S. consumers, companies, and financial markets. They also jeopardize international trade order and world economic stability.

We urge the U.S. to cease and desist, make cautious decisions, and avoid placing China-U.S. trade relations in danger with the purpose of hurting others that eventually end up hurting itself.