China committed to protecting rights of foreign-funded enterprises: official

An official from China's Ministry of Commerce told American enterprises on Sunday that the country will continue to protect the rights of foreign-invested enterprises in China, including those funded by the United States.

Ling Ji, vice minister of commerce and deputy China international trade representative, made the remarks while hosting a roundtable meeting in Beijing with representatives from over 20 U.S.-funded enterprises, including Tesla, GE Healthcare, and Medtronic.

Speaking at the meeting, Ling said that despite the changes in the international situation, China's commitment to reform and opening up remains unwavering. Multilateralism is the inevitable choice for addressing the difficulties and challenges facing the world. China's door to opening up will only widen, and its policies regarding foreign investment have not changed and will not change.

The Ministry of Commerce will continue to provide protection for foreign-invested enterprises in China, including U.S.-funded enterprises, safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of foreign-invested enterprises in accordance with the law, and actively promoting the resolution of issues raised by foreign-invested enterprises, according to the vice minister.

China has been all along, as it is now, and will continue to be an ideal, secure, and promising land for foreign investment, Ling noted.

Ling also stressed that the U.S., under various pretexts, has recently abused tariffs on all trading partners, including China, severely damaging the rules-based multilateral trade system and infringing on the legitimate rights and interests of various countries. The Chinese government strongly condemns and firmly opposes this and has taken decisive countermeasures in response.

He pointed out that the root of the tariff issue lies in the U.S. It is hoped that U.S.-funded enterprises will trace the origin, clarify cause and effect, send rational voices, and take practical actions to jointly maintain the stability of the global supply chain and promote cooperation and mutual benefit.

These remarks were made as China announced countermeasures on Friday against the U.S. decision to impose "reciprocal tariffs" on Chinese exports, including the imposition of an additional 34-percent tariff on all products imported from the U.S. starting from April 10, as well as filing a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization regarding the U.S. "reciprocal tariffs".

China committed to protecting rights of foreign-funded enterprises: official

China committed to protecting rights of foreign-funded enterprises: official

China committed to protecting rights of foreign-funded enterprises: official

China committed to protecting rights of foreign-funded enterprises: official

China committed to protecting rights of foreign-funded enterprises: official

China committed to protecting rights of foreign-funded enterprises: official

European Union (EU) policy consultant Johann Weick has condemned U.S. tariffs as harmful to consumers, highlighting that President Donald Trump's approach is a "bullying" tactic to exploit the EU's limited options and weaken the bloc, as he urged vigilance against these tactics.

Weick made the remarks following the EU member states' decision on Wednesday to approve the bloc's first package of retaliatory measures against Trump's tariffs.

According to media outlets Euractiv and Politico, 26 of the bloc's 27 member states voted in favor during Wednesday's session, signaling overwhelming support for fighting back against Trump's tariff measures.

Weick said the initial retaliatory measures of the EU are a direct counterattack against the tariffs, and Europe will remain increasingly vigilant regarding the true intentions of the U.S. in the future.

"Trump is really bullying the European Union because he knows very well that the European union does not have much of an alternative. And they would like, I will not say crush, but they would like to see a weaker European Union and European Union better pays attention," said Weick.

He stressed that tariff decisions made by the Trump administration are unpopular within the U.S., as they are expected to lead to significant price increases, primarily affecting American consumers.

Furthermore, these policies will disrupt the world economy, and countries across the globe should maintain a firm stance in response to the situation.

"Does Donald Trump understand that if he slaps tariffs that the importers, the wholesalers, the retailers are passing the increased price because it's a tax. To the consumer It will cost and will harm the consumer in the U.S. but also around the world," said the analyst.

Some analysts also pointed out that the retaliatory measures indicated a further deepening of the rift in transatlantic relations under the pressure of U.S. tariffs.

EU analyst criticizes Trump's tariff "bullying" tactics, urges vigilance