US abuse of tariffs goes against the trend of the times

RECENTLY, the United States Government, in disregard of widespread opposition at home and abroad, has abused the tool of tariffs to blackmail and coerce global trading partners, including China.

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This unilateral and protectionist move infringes on the legitimate rights and interests of other countries, violates the WTO rules, undermines the rules-based multilateral trading system, and impacts the stability of the global economic order. The Chinese government strongly condemns and resolutely opposes such a move.

First, US abuse of tariffs highlights its unilateral bullying nature and seriously infringes on the legitimate rights and interests of other countries.

The US government frequently and indiscriminately wields the big axe of tariffs to exert pressure on other countries, using tariffs as a weapon to profit from the world. It is essentially practicing power politics in the economic and trade area, and pursuing “American privileges”.

The US suspension of “reciprocal tariffs” on some of its trading partners is just a small symbolic step. It doesn’t change the essence of the US seeking its own gains through trade blackmail. The US tariff policy is arbitrary and unpredictable. The US side never consults with other countries, which is extremely disrespectful to all other sides and highlights its arrogance.

While the US does have a deficit in trade in goods, it has a large surplus in trade in services, where it enjoys an absolute advantage. The US side deliberately ignores this fact and chooses to impose tariffs indiscriminately, which is tantamount to depriving countries of their right to development, especially the Global South countries.

According to WTO data, in the context of unequal economic development and unequal economic power, the US tariff policy will further widen the wealth gap between countries, and less developed countries will suffer a greater impact. This policy only serves the hegemonic interests of the US at the expense of the legitimate interests of all other countries, and is bound to be rejected by the international community.