In a significant development for global trade relations, the Chinese business community has expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to a proposed tariff measure by the United States. The measure, which targets dozens of economies including the Chinese mainland, is based on allegations related to forced labor, according to the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).
The CCPIT argues that the US investigation and the subsequent proposed tariffs represent an attempt to extend domestic standards and unilateral rules to other nations. According to the trade promotion body, these actions lack a foundation in international law and run counter to the established rules of the multilateral trading system.
Central to the opposition is the claim that the US conclusions—which suggest that the targeted economies' policies undermine forced labor elimination or distort market competition—are not supported by sufficient evidence. The CCPIT characterized the proposed measure as a tool of policy pressure, noting that it bears the clear hallmarks of unilateralism and protectionism.
Furthermore, the CCPIT highlighted that differentiated tariff arrangements are in clear violation of the principles of non-discrimination and fair competition, which are cornerstones of global trade stability.
As global markets navigate these tensions, China's business community is urging the US to respect the facts and cease the overstretching and abuse of trade restrictions. The CCPIT called for a return to a rules-based multilateral trading system, suggesting that trade and economic disputes be addressed through dialogue and consultation to jointly safeguard the stability of global industrial and supply chains.
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China's business community opposes proposed US 'forced labor' tariffs
cgtn.com
