China firmly opposes U.S. imposition of additional tariffs on imported vehicles which harms global auto industry, a spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Thursday.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday to impose 25 percent tariffs on all imported vehicles, starting at 0:01 Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) Thursday.
According to a document released by the White House, Trump signed a proclamation invoking Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to impose an additional 25 percent tariffs on imports of automobiles and certain automobile parts to address "a critical threat to U.S. national security."
In response to the U.S. move, MOFCOM spokesman He Yadong said it will disrupt global supply chains in the auto industry.
"China firmly opposes the United States' imposition of relevant tariff measures based on the so-called investigation under Section 232. The United States has once again used the concept of 'national security' for trade protectionist purposes, and many trading partners of the United States have expressed their strong dissatisfaction with it. The global automotive industry is highly dependent on transnational production and supply chains. The U.S. measures artificially sever its production and supply chain connections with other regions, which will neither help the so-called national security nor the domestic industry of the United States, but will only highlight the unilateralism, protectionism and bullying nature of the United States," He said.
China opposes US imposition of additional tariffs on imported vehicles: spokesman
China opposes US imposition of additional tariffs on imported vehicles: spokesman
China opposes US imposition of additional tariffs on imported vehicles: spokesman
China opposes US imposition of additional tariffs on imported vehicles: spokesman
Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), held talks with speaker of the Finnish parliament Jussi Halla-aho in Beijing on Monday, to discuss relations between their two countries.
Noting this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Finland, Zhao said China stands ready to work together with Finland to deliver on the important consensus reached between the top leaders of the two countries, and promote continuous development of the China-Finland future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership.
China is further deepening reform comprehensively and expanding high-standard opening up, which will bring new opportunities for bilateral cooperation, Zhao said, noting China is willing to make joint efforts with Finland to expand win-win cooperation and cement public support for bilateral relations.
China hopes that Finland will continue to play a positive role in boosting mutual promotion and common development of China-Finland relations and of relations between China and the European Union (EU), Zhao said.
Zhao said that the NPC is ready to carry forward the traditional friendship and implement close exchange and cooperation with the Finnish parliament.
As China and Finland each have their own characteristics in national governance and development concepts, the national legislatures of the two countries can learn from each other and play their legislative and supervisory roles to create a sound and stable legal environment for practical cooperation between the two countries, he said.
For his part, Halla-aho said that Finland stays committed to the one-China policy, noting the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.
On the basis of mutual respect and trust, Finland is willing to promote practical bilateral cooperation, safeguard free trade and tackle common challenges, said Halla-aho, noting that the Finnish parliament hopes for enhanced exchange with China's NPC, so as to play a positive role in deepening the relations between Finland and China.
China's top legislator holds talks with Finland's parliament speaker on relations
