China is accusing the U.S. of bullying with tariffs imposed by President Trump and said Washington is pursuing the wrong approach in dealing with Beijing.
The tariffs are "typical unilateral and protectionist bullying,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters Monday at a press conference, the Economic Times reported.
Lin argued putting “America First” before international trade rules harms global production and will impair the world’s economic recovery.
“Pressure and threats are not the way to deal with China,” Lin said. “China will firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.”
The remarks come after Trump put an additional 34 percent tariff on Chinese goods, on top of two rounds of 10 percent tariffs announced earlier this year. China responded with its own 34 percent tariff on U.S. goods.
Ling Ji, a Chinese vice minister of Commerce, said the “tariff problem” starts in the U.S. and pledged that Beijing remains open to foreign investment.
“The root of the tariff problem is in the U.S.,” Ling said at a meeting with nearly two dozen American companies, a readout said.
“We hope the American companies can address the problem at its root, ... issue reasonable statements, take concrete actions, and work together to safeguard the stability of the global supply chain,” Ling added.
The Associated Press contributed.
