Spokesperson's Remarks｜China urges US to find right way to engage with China

Responding to a question on US tariffs on Chinese goods, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday that China firmly deplores and opposes the move of the US to levy a 10 percent additional tariff on Chinese imports under the pretext of the fentanyl issue. The measures China has taken are what's needed for safeguarding our legitimate rights and interests.

Lin noted that trade and tariff wars have no winners. Putting pressure on China or threatening China will lead nowhere. China urges the US to correct its wrongdoings, address each other's concerns through equal-footed consultation, and promote the steady, sound and sustainable development of China-US relationship.

Responding to another question on the fentanyl issue, Lin said on Wednesday that pressuring or threatening China is not a right way to engage with China. Reducing domestic demands for drugs and enhancing law enforcement cooperation is the fundamental solution to the fentanyl crisis in the US. China will firmly defend its legitimate rights and interests.

Lin pointed out that China is one of the world's toughest countries on counternarcotics both in terms of policy and its implementation. Fentanyl is an issue for the US and the root cause lies in the country itself. China has given support to the US response to the fentanyl issue in the spirit of humanity. At the request of the US, China announced back in 2019 the decision to officially schedule fentanyl-related substances as a class. China is the first country in the world to do so.

"In recent years, China has conducted practical counternarcotics cooperation with the US side in a broad-based way. The achievements we have made are there for all to see in such fields as the scheduling of drug-related substances, intelligence sharing, cooperation on individual cases, removal of online ads, exchange on drug testing technology, and multilateral interaction." Lin added.

"Regardless of our achievements in the counternarcotics cooperation, the US is bent on levying a 10 percent additional tariff on Chinese imports under the pretext of the fentanyl issue. China firmly deplores and opposes this move and has taken necessary measures to defend its legitimate rights and interests." Lin said.

China announced on Tuesday the additional tariffs on certain imported goods originating from the US starting from February 10, in response to US's 10 percent additional tariffs on all Chinese goods to the US.

Effective February 10, an additional 15 percent tariff will be imposed on imported coal and liquefied natural gas originating from the US. Crude oil, agricultural machinery, automobiles with large displacement, and pickup trucks will be subject to additional tariffs of 10 percent, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council said on Tuesday. (By Ma Ziqian/China Youth Daily)