China pushes back as US tariff threat renews trade tensions

WITH Washington once again reaching for tariffs as a political lever, China is taking a firm but measured stand in defence of its economic sovereignty.

- SIFISO MAHLANGU [e-mail]

In response to US President Donald Trump's latest threat to impose 100% tariffs on Chinese imports, Beijing is calling for restraint and dialogue, even as it signals readiness to protect national interests.

At the centre of the growing dispute is China's recent move to tighten controls on the export of rare earth technologies - vital components in advanced electronics, defence systems, and green energy production. Washington has accused Beijing of using its dominance in rare earths for strategic leverage. In turn, Chinese officials have dismissed that claim as unfounded and say the new rules are both legal and necessary in the current global environment.

"Export controls on sensitive technologies are a legitimate tool of national security," a spokesperson from China's Ministry of Commerce said yesterday, defending recent regulatory steps. "Unilateral tariff escalation is not the answer."