More talks behind the scenes expected as Beijing and Washington seek to avoid a trade war
Beijing underscored its determination to protect its interests after Washington demanded a US$100 billion cut in China’s trade surplus with the United States.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Thursday that the two countries should resolve their disputes through talks, since a trade war would not benefit either country.
China would protect its legitimate rights if “something happens we don’t want to see”, he said.
His remarks come after the White House said it would push to reduce its yawning trade deficit with China, which reached a record US$365 billion last year.
It did not say how it would do so but the administration of US President Donald Trump is expected to slap tariffs on Chinese imports – particularly those covered by a US investigation into Chinese intellectual property practices – and possibly clamp down on Chinese investments.
Trump last week tweeted that China had been asked to narrow the trade imbalance by US$1 billion, but a White House spokesman said on Wednesday that Trump had meant to say US$100 billion.
Fudan University international relations professor Wei Zongyou said Beijing would retaliate over any attempt to force an “exorbitant” US$100 billion cut.
“Cutting it by US$100 billion does not follow economic logic or market rules, nor does it follow the fundamental principles of how countries should interact,” Wei said.
