China raises ‘concerns’ over US tariffs, investment curbs as trade officials meet
Points raised included trade sanctions, two-way investment curbs and ‘unfair treatment’ of Chinese firms in the US, commerce ministry says
Commerce vice-minister Wang Shouwen led the Chinese delegation in the talks with Marisa Lago, the US under secretary of commerce for international trade, in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin.
Wang, who is also China’s international trade representative, “expressed concerns” over the additional Section 301 tariffs announced earlier this year, as well as the latest Section 301 probe into China’s shipping industry, according to a statement from the commerce ministry.
Under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, the US can impose trade sanctions on countries that violate trade agreements or engage in “unjustifiable” or “unreasonable” acts that burden its commerce.
Tariffs on Chinese imports under this section were first imposed under the Trump administration in 2018.