China's Ministry of Commerce has reiterated its opposition to recent Section 301 investigations launched by the United States, calling the move a destabilizing force in global trade. The probes, initiated this month against dozens of economies including the Chinese mainland, allege imports of goods produced with "forced labor" – claims Beijing dismisses as politically motivated.
Analysts highlight a pattern of unilateral trade measures, noting Washington deployed similar Section 301 tactics on March 11 to challenge alleged "overcapacity" across 15 economies. These actions coincide with high-stakes economic talks in Paris between Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, aimed at stabilizing bilateral trade relations.
"This investigation severely undermines global industrial chains and disrupts the international economic order," stated a Chinese commerce ministry spokesperson. Current data shows China-US trade accounts for 9% of China's total foreign trade volume, supporting over 530,000 American jobs.
Recent dialogues have emphasized mutual concerns over maintaining stable cross-border investment flows. The Paris meetings built on 2025 discussions that established frameworks for addressing trade imbalances through consultation rather than confrontation.
Economic observers warn that continued reliance on Section 301 measures risks derailing progress made through diplomatic channels. With global supply chains still recovering from pandemic-era disruptions, many Asian economies view the investigations as counterproductive to regional recovery efforts.
