China’s finance minister lashed out at the United States’ tariffs for bringing “unprecedented huge risks” to the global economy, according to an article published by his ministry on Tuesday.
Separately, the Chinese foreign ministry said the United States needed to change its “threatening” approach if it wishes to reach an agreement, according to the state news agency Xinhua.
The world’s two largest economies are engaged in a punishing trade war in which US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs reaching 145 percent on many Chinese products and Beijing retaliated with 125 percent duties on imports from the United States.
Lan Fo’an, speaking at an Asian Development Bank (ADB) meeting in Milan that began on Sunday, did not specifically mention the United States but said the risks were the result of “a certain country (that) has launched tariff wars and trade wars”.
“The current international situation is becoming more turbulent and chaotic, unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise,” he said, calling on ADB members to uphold the rules of multilateral institutions.
China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, speaking in a daily press briefing quoted by Xinhua, said: “If a negotiated solution is truly what the United States wants, it should stop threatening and exerting pressure, and seek dialogue with China based on equality, respect and mutual benefit.”
Lin added: “China’s position is consistent and clear: We will fight, if fight we must. Our doors are open, if the United States wants to talk.”
China’s commerce ministry raised hopes on Friday that there could be negotiations with the United States when it said it was “currently evaluating” a US offer of trade talks.
However, it insisted Washington must first cancel “unilateral tariffs” on China, a step Trump rejected in an interview with NBC recorded on Friday.
Trump said in the interview, which aired on Sunday, that China’s economy was “collapsing”.
Asked if he would drop tariffs to get China to the negotiating table, he said: “Why would I do that?”
Beijing has repeatedly pledged to fight a trade war “to the end” if needed. A video posted by its foreign ministry on social media last week vowed it would “never kneel down”.
Both economies have been hit as the tariffs shook markets and roiled supply chains.
China’s factory activity shrank in April, with Beijing blaming a “sharp shift” in the global economy.
Data showed last Wednesday that the US economy contracted in the first three months of the year as Trump’s tariff plans triggered an import surge.