1494885100.jpg

BEIJING, March 23 (Itar-Tass) - RIA Novosti. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce calls on the US to take into account Beijing's concerns as soon as possible and to resolve the existing differences over duties on certain groups of goods after Washington decides to impose new import tariffs on steel and aluminum, the website of the Chinese department said.

"China strongly urges the US to eliminate Beijing's concerns as soon as possible (regarding the damage from the introduction of new US duties), through dialogue and negotiations, to resolve the existing differences, and to avoid damaging the cooperation of China and the United States as a whole," the statement said.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce noted that "China and the United States are the two largest world economies, and cooperation remains the only right choice for the two countries."

"Beijing hopes that both sides will proceed from common interests, will meet each other, focus on cooperation, properly resolve differences, jointly promote healthy and stable development of Sino-US trade and economic relations," the statement said.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that the country introduces import duties on steel at 25% and aluminum at 10%. The fees, he said, will last for a long period of time. Trump noted that duties are introduced "in defense of America's national security." In response, Beijing urged Washington to abolish the imposed duties on steel and aluminum as soon as possible, which harm both other countries and the US itself. In the Ministry of Commerce of China, they announced their intention to take appropriate measures to protect their rights and interests.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced its intention to introduce a number of appropriate countermeasures in response to US actions that are "a violation of WTO rules and a hindrance to the normal functioning of the international trading system." In particular, the list of 128 names of goods imported from the USA has been published, for which China can introduce import duties in 15% and 25% to protect its interests, among them fresh fruit, dried fruits, pork, wine, nuts. At the same time, it is noted that Beijing will impose the specified fees only if it is not possible to achieve a compensation agreement with the United States.

Link: https://ria.ru/world/20180323/1517079376.html