Spokesperson's Remarks｜China's countermeasures against two rounds of U.S.' groundless tariffs citing fentanyl remain in force

When asked to comment on reports that after China-U.S. Economic and Trade Meeting in Geneva, China will lower the tariffs on U.S. goods from 125 percent to 10 percent for an initial period of 90 days, while the U.S. will cut its tariffs on Chinese goods to 30 percent, including 20 percent of which is imposed on the grounds of the fentanyl issue, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press conference in Beijing on Wednesday that right after the U.S. groundlessly levied two rounds of tariffs on Chinese goods under the pretext of the fentanyl issue, China responded with tariffs and non-tariff countermeasures to firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests. These countermeasures remain in force.

Lin further said that China and the U.S. reached multiple positive common understandings at the economic and trade meeting in Geneva. Both sides agreed to slash tariffs on each other's goods. The U.S. committed to remove 91 percent in tariffs, and suspend 24 percent in "reciprocal tariffs." China would accordingly remove 91 percent in counter tariffs and suspend 24 percent in counter tariffs. The two countries respectively retain the remaining 10 percent in tariffs.

Lin also dismissed remarks made by former U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, who reportedly said the U.S. has made it clear to Beijing that failure to coordinate on the fentanyl issue must come at a price and that China does have the capacity to stop the flow of precursor chemicals.

Lin reiterated China's position in response to another question that China has made it clear more than once that fentanyl is the U.S.'s problem, not China's. It's the U.S.'s responsibility to solve the issue. Despite the goodwill China has shown, the U.S. wrongly slapped tariffs on Chinese imports by citing the issue of fentanyl. The move has dealt a heavy blow to China-U.S. dialogue and cooperation on counternarcotics, and gravely hurt China's interests. If the U.S. truly wants to cooperate with China, it should stop vilifying and shifting the blame on China, and seek dialogue with China based on equality, respect and mutual benefit.

"China firmly opposes the irresponsible and false accusations made by the U.S. individual," Lin said. (By Ma Ziqian/China Youth Daily)