China rejects Washington’s accusations of violating tariff reduction agreement
China on Monday rejected US allegations that it had violated a tariff reduction agreement between the world’s two largest economies.
Last month, Beijing and Washington agreed to a temporary, reciprocal reduction in tariffs that burden both sides for 90 days, following talks between senior officials in Geneva.
But US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told Fox News Sunday that Beijing is slowing down the implementation of the agreement.
Beijing responded on Monday, saying that Washington made false accusations and unreasonably accused China of violating the agreement, which seriously contradicts the facts.
“China strongly rejects these unreasonable accusations,” the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said in a statement.
Last week, US President Donald Trump also accused China of “totally violating the agreement,” without providing details.
However, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce affirmed that it is firm in protecting its rights and interests and sincere in implementing the agreement.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce added that Washington “has successively imposed a number of discriminatory restrictive measures against China,” citing controls on the export of artificial intelligence chips and the revocation of visas for Chinese students in the United States.
China urged the United States to meet it halfway, immediately correct its wrongdoings, and jointly adhere to the consensus reached in the Geneva trade talks.
If this doesn’t happen, “China will continue to take resolute and strong measures to uphold its legitimate rights and interests”.
