Beijing hails ties with Trump – warns against ‘harmful disputes’

China is still assessing the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn several of President Donald Trump’s tariffs and has urged Washington to revoke its ‘unilateral tariff measures’. The Ministry of Commerce said such duties breach international trade rules and US law and serve neither side’s interests.

At the same time, it cautioned that co-operation between China and the United States is beneficial, but ‘fighting is harmful’.

Shortly after the ruling last week, Trump announced a new 10 per cent tariff on imports from all countries, which he then raised to 15 per cent. The measure is based on a legal provision allowing temporary duties to be imposed for 150 days. Any extension beyond that period would require congressional approval.

Tariffs are also expected to dominate Trump’s planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March.

The ruling has reverberated across other Asian economies, including South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Seoul said it would continue consultations with Washington, while India postponed a trade mission to the US capital. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde underlined the need for clear and predictable rules.

(reuters, max)