China intends to impose tariffs on some steel aluminum products imported the United States

On March 23, 2018, the Ministry of Commerce issued a list of products with suspension of concessions in response to the 232 measures for U.S. imports of steel aluminum products solicited public opinions. It intends to impose tariffs on certain products imported the U.S. The loss of China’s interests caused by tariffs on aluminum products. The spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce made a statement on this.

The list tentatively includes 7 categories 128 taxable products. According to 2017 statistics, it involves approximately US$3 billion in US exports to China. The first part has a total of 120 taxes, involving US$977 million exports to China, including fresh fruits, dried fruits nut products, wine, modified ethanol, American ginseng, seamless steel pipes other products. It is proposed to impose a 15% tariff. The second part has a total of 8 taxes, involving US$1.992 billion of US exports to China, including pork products, recycled aluminum other products. It is planned to impose a 25% tariff.

The US's acts of imposing 25% 10% tariffs on imported steel aluminum products on the grounds of "national security" actually constitute safeguard measures. In accordance with the relevant provisions of the WTO’s Safeguard Measures Agreement, China has formulated a list of suspended concessions. If China the United States fail to reach a trade compensation agreement within the specified time, China will exercise the right to suspend concessions for the first part of the product; China will implement the second part of the list after further evaluating the impact of the US measures on China. China reserves the right to adjust measures based on actual conditions will perform necessary procedures in accordance with relevant WTO rules.

The United States' practice of restricting product imports on the grounds of "national security" has severely disrupted the multilateral trading system represented by the WTO seriously interfered with the normal international trade order. It has been opposed by many WTO members. China has also negotiated with the US through multiple levels channels, will take legal actions under the WTO framework to jointly maintain the stability authority of multilateral trade rules with other WTO members.

As the two largest economies in the world, cooperation between China the United States is the right choice for the two countries. It is hoped that both sides will proceed the overall situation of China the United States, meet each other halfway, focus on cooperation, manage differences, jointly promote the healthy stable development of China-US economic trade relations. China urges the United States to resolve China’s concerns as soon as possible resolve differences between the two sides through dialogue consultation to avoid harm to the overall situation of China-US cooperation.