China urges the United States to immediately cancel all additional tariffs on Chinese products, a spokeswoman of the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday, in commenting on public comments on the results of a recent tariff review by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
Speaking at a regular press conference in Beijing after the Office of the USTR announced another delay in raising additional tariffs on Chinese products, He Yongqian, the spokeswoman, said that the ministry has made solemn representations to the U.S. regarding Section 301 tariffs multiple times. The WTO has already ruled that Section 301 tariffs violate WTO rules, and the U.S. practice of increasing tariffs on China is a mistake.
"Earlier, the Office of the USTR sought public comments on the results of the tariff review, with most opposing the increase of tariffs or the expansion of tariff exemptions, indicating that Section 301 tariffs are unpopular. We urge the U.S. to correct its wrongdoing, actively respond to voices from all walks of life, and immediately cancel all additional tariffs on China," He said.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump launched a trade war with China, and levied additional tariffs on over 300 billion U.S. dollars worth of Chinese imports, citing the so-called Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. To offer relief for some companies in certain industries, Trump approved tariff exclusions for certain products.
China urges U.S. to cancel all additional tariffs on Chinese imports: spokeswoman
Authorities in east China's coastal provinces Zhejiang and Jiangsu have launched emergency evacuation of residents to help mitigate the impact of Typhoon Bebinca -- the 13th typhoon of the year.
In Zhejiang's Pinghu City, communities have started the relocation work. The old town area of Xindai, home to about 1,400 permanent residents, including some 30 percent elderly, has been a focus of evacuation efforts.
Over 50 elderly residents have been evacuated to a temporary courtyard shelter, where they have plenty of space for meals and walking around. The shelter is equipped with folding beds, food, drinking water and medical staff standing by to address any health concerns.
The province also raised its emergency response for typhoon prevention to level II.
In Jiangsu Province, Nantong City has conducted comprehensive safety inspections and organized evacuations in key areas.
Nantong's Rugao Port on the Yangtze River was shutdown on Sunday afternoon.
All workers at the Zhangjiagang-Jingjiang-Rugao Bridge construction site -- located at a river shoal -- are evacuated ahead of the storm attack.
"From the temporary ferry to the Rugao-Zhangjiagang ferry, we have evacuated a total of 428 people. So far, all construction personnel of the Zhangjinggao Bridge within the scope of this construction site have been evacuated to our shelter," said Ding Xiaoxing, chief engineer of Rugao Water Affairs Department.
Authorities in Nantong has evacuated more than 1,400 people and over 200 vessels along the coastal area under its jurisdiction.
Making landfall in Shanghai on Monday morning, Typhoon Bebinca is the most powerful tropical cyclone directly hitting the Chinese financial hub in more than seven decades.
Zhejiang, Jiangsu evacuate residents as Typhoon Bebinca lands in east China
