China says successful US trade talks make return to tariff war unnecessary
BEIJING : China wants to bring its trade ties with the US back to a stable footing, its commerce minister said, adding that recent talks in Europe showed there was no need for a tariff war while urging the US to act in a manner befitting of a superpower.
Commerce minister Wang Wentao told reporters today that the 'ups and downs' in the two countries' relationship underscored their economic interdependence.
Asked about the US specifically, Wang said: 'Major countries should act like major countries. They must shoulder their responsibilities,' adding that China would protect its national interests.
China is facing an Aug 12 deadline to reach a durable tariff agreement with the US, after Beijing and Washington reached a preliminary deal last month to end weeks of escalating tit-for-tat tariffs.
If no deal is reached, global supply chains could face renewed turmoil from duties exceeding 100%.
Wang said negotiations in Geneva and London earlier this year demonstrated there was no need to return to a trade war.
'Practice has proven that through dialogue and consultation, with leadership and communication at the highest levels, we can properly manage contradictions and resolve our differences,' he said.
'We will continue to strengthen dialogue and communication, deepen consensus, reduce misunderstandings, enhance cooperation, to jointly put China-US economic and trade relations back on track to achieve healthy, stable and sustainable development,' he said.
China's rare earths exports rose 32% month-on-month in June, customs data showed on Monday, in a sign that agreements struck last month in London to free up the flow of the metals were possibly bearing fruit.
Chipmaker Nvidia will also resume selling its H20 AI chips to China, Chief Executive Jensen Huang said at an event in Beijing this week, a move US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick said was also part of negotiations on rare earths.
Wang said today that he had met Huang the previous day, describing the meeting as evidence that 'as the dust settles, everyone has come to the conclusion – especially the US side – that forced decoupling is impossible'.
Wang said the current overall tariff level imposed by the US on China was 'still high' at 53.6%.
Analysts have said that additional duties exceeding 35% will probably wipe out Chinese manufacturers' profit margins.
'Both sides have come to understand that they need each other, as lots of the goods and services that we exchange are irreplaceable, or at least difficult to exchange in the short-term,' Wang said.
'China does not want a trade war, but it is not afraid of one,' he reiterated.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Barnama
8 hours ago
- Barnama
58th AMM Highlights ASEAN's Balancing Act Amid Superpower Rivalry
Analysts believe that the engagement by both powers reflects ASEAN's growing strategic importance amid shifting global dynamics, with China projecting a stable diplomatic approach and the US seeking to re-establish trust in the region. KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 (Bernama) -- The presence of China and the United States (US) at the 58th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) and Related Meetings has reinforced the grouping's zest to maintain regional peace and neutrality amid rising superpower rivalry and heightened Malaysia's diplomatic credibility as a trusted partner and future bridge-builder among competing powers. Similarly, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's presence at Kuala Lumpur signalled Washington's endeavour to re-establish ties with Southeast Asia as a security and economic partner, more so after the chaos caused by America's sweeping tariffs, most of which will take effect come August. Amid renewed geopolitical competition, an analyst opined that China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi's active engagement reflected Beijing's evolving foreign policy posture and its desire to align with ASEAN's principles of peace and neutrality. 'Wang's participation was a productive time for China. It was an opportunity to show its international standing and willingness towards dialogue,' said Dr Rowena Abd Razak, a historical consultant and an Associate with IMAN Research (A Kuala Lumpur-based think tank which focuses on the domains of protective security, peacebuilding and sustainable development). She noted that China's reiteration of support for the Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality (ZOPFAN), along with Wang's meeting with Rubio, demonstrated Beijing's openness to working within international frameworks. Undoubtedly a feather in the cap for ASEAN, 'these moves undeniably showcased China's ability to play a savvy foreign policy game - one that is markedly different from perceived US aggression and the unpredictability of (Donald) Trump's presidency,' she said. Rowena added that Wang's conduct during the meetings reflected an alignment with ASEAN's aspiration to maintain peace and advance a nuclear-free Southeast Asia. Despite China being an economic superpower and Southeast Asia's dependence on the Chinese economy, Wang's approach also showed deference to ASEAN centrality and Malaysia's role as the regional bloc's Chair this year, she said. From an economic perspective, she said Beijing is capitalising on the region's growth potential, mainly as the US adopts increasingly protectionist policies. She cited the proposed upgrade of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA 3.0) as reflecting Beijing's vision of deeper integration with the region. 'Beijing sees ASEAN as an important zone of trade and exchange, particularly amid growing US economic isolation,' she said, referring to the debilitating tariffs imposed on ASEAN member states. 'Wang is expressing Beijing's view of ASEAN's importance and positioning China as a champion for the region,' she added. WASHINGTON RECOVERS LOST GROUND Concurring with Rowena, Universiti Malaya (UM) Security and International Relations analyst Collins Chong Yew Keat said this year's AMM served as a platform for ASEAN to assert its relevance amid intensifying great power competition. Rubio's attendance reflected Washington's attempt to re-engage the region more consistently and rebuild strategic trust. He attributed this to the US attempting to recover lost ground and re-establish itself as a security and economic partner. 'This year's meetings marked a turning point in US efforts to restore credibility and demonstrate dependable support for ASEAN centrality, especially after years of transactional diplomacy. 'While China's rise has been structured and steady, the US is now working to show it remains committed to ASEAN's future,' he said. Rubio's reaffirmation of support for ASEAN principles – neutrality, regional autonomy, and freedom of navigation – was significant, especially amid tensions in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. 'The emphasis on shared values, rules-based order and connectivity offered by Rubio provides a needed contrast to China's assertiveness,' he added. Still, Collins said ASEAN must balance engagement with both powers without eroding unity or compromising neutrality. MALAYSIA ACTS AS A BRIDGE-BUILDER Collins also said this year's AMM tested ASEAN's strategic maturity as the global order becomes more fragmented. It seemed to have passed with flying colours. He said Washington's clearer messaging and sustained high-level participation reflected an understanding that past diplomatic absences had created a vacuum increasingly filled by China. 'ASEAN is now in the spotlight to prove that it remains a relevant and cohesive force amid competing frameworks like the Quad, a grouping comprising Australia, India, Japan and the US and AUKUS, the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the US. 'There is now recognition in Washington that inconsistency has damaged trust in the region,' he said. Looking ahead, Collins said that Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship for the remainder of 2025, especially at the upcoming summit and with leaders of dialogue partners, possibly including US President Trump, will be pivotal in steering the bloc through a complex regional environment. He added that Putrajaya, Malaysia's federal administrative capital, has the diplomatic credibility to act as a trusted interlocutor between competing powers. 'Malaysia must step forward as a bridge-builder to ensure ASEAN remains cohesive while promoting inclusive, rules-based cooperation with all major powers. 'Malaysia's leadership will be critical in strengthening ASEAN mechanisms, advancing economic resilience and anchoring strategic convergence based on mutual respect and autonomy,' he said. Wang participated in key sessions during the AMM, including the ASEAN-China and ASEAN Plus Three (APT) meetings. Rubio, on his first official visit to Asia, participated in the ASEAN-US Foreign Ministers' Meeting and held bilateral talks with Wang on the sidelines. The meetings, held from July 8 to 11, were hosted under Malaysia's 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship, with the theme 'Inclusivity and Sustainability'. -- BERNAMA BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies. Follow us on social media : Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio Twitter : @ @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial TikTok : @bernamaofficial
The Star
8 hours ago
- The Star
Philippine Supreme Court rules impeachment bid against vice president is unconstitutional
MANILA, Philippines (AP): The Philippine Supreme Court has ruled that an impeachment case filed against Vice President Sara Duterte violated the country's constitution due to a key technicality, a decision that blocks her upcoming trial over a raft of criminal allegations, including her threat to have the president assassinated . The House of Representatives, which impeached Duterte in February and sent the case to the Senate for trial, violated a rule that only one impeachment case could be processed by the lower chamber against an impeachable official in a single year, court spokesperson Camille Ting said. The House received at least four separate impeachment cases against Duterte between December and February but only one was transmitted to the Senate, which would have served as an impeachment tribunal. The other three impeachment cases were placed in the House's order of business but were archived with no action and "effectively dismissed,' according to the ruling. The ruling was "immediately executory,' the court said. "It is not our duty to favor any political result,' the court said in a statement, suggesting it did not pass judgement on the array of allegations. "Ours is to ensure that politics are framed within the rule of just law.' Duterte's lawyers welcomed the decision, which they said upheld the rule of law. "We remain prepared to address the allegations at the proper time and before the appropriate forum," the attorneys in a statement. Duterte, 47, became the first vice president of the Philippines to be impeached by the House in February over an array of alleged high crimes. The accusations were led by her threat during a November online news conference to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife and cousin, then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez, killed by an assassin if she were killed herself during her high-profile disputes with them. The daughter of Marcos' controversial predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, she also has been accused of large-scale corruption, sedition, terrorism and failing to openly support the Philippine government's efforts to oppose and denounce China's aggressive actions against Filipino forces in the disputed South China Sea. Duterte allegedly backed her father's brutal crackdowns against illegal drugs that led to extrajudicial killings in their southern home city. Her impeachment trial was set to begin either next week or early next month by the 24-member Senate, which has convened to hear the case. If the Supreme Court ruling becomes final, the vice president's opponents could file another impeachment case after a year. Duterte ran as Marcos's running mate in 2022 on a campaign battle cry of unity in their deeply divided and poverty-stricken Southeast Asian country. Both were scions of strongmen accused of human rights violations, but their strong regional bases of political support combined to give them landslide victories. Their whirlwind political alliance, however, rapidly frayed when they took office. Duterte's father openly accused Marcos of being a weak leader and a drug addict even during the campaign, allegations the president denied. The vice president later resigned from her then-concurrent Cabinet post as educations secretary as the rifts between the two political families deepened. She later accused Marcos, his wife and Romualdez of corruption, weak leadership and attempting to muzzle her because of speculation she may seek the presidency in 2028 when Marcos's six-year term ends. Duterte made the comment about killing Marcos and his family members during a Nov. 23 news conference, a threat she warned wasn't a joke. Faced with the prospects of criminal lawsuits, Duterte later said she wasn't threatening him but was expressing concern for her own safety. Still, her statements set off a criminal investigation and national security concerns and prompted calls for her impeachment. Among the impeachment complaint signatories was the president's son, Rep. Sandro Marcos, and Romualdez. The petition urged the Senate to shift into an impeachment court to try the vice president, "render a judgement of conviction,' remove her from office and ban her from holding public office. "Duterte's conduct throughout her tenure clearly displays gross faithlessness against public trust and a tyrannical abuse of power that, taken together, showcases her gross unfitness to hold public office and her infidelity to the laws and the 1987 Constitution,' the complaint said. Last month, senators voted to send the raft of complaints back to the House due to legal questions, sparking street protests demanding Duterte's immediate trial. Then-Senate President Chiz Escudero said the move led by Duterte's allies in the Senate did not mean the impeachment complaint was being dismissed and issued a summons for Duterte to appear when the trial proceeds. - AP
The Star
8 hours ago
- The Star
US drops sanctions on Myanmar junta allies after Trump praise
A trishaw driver rides as his passenger uses an umbrella to cover themselves from the rain in Yangon on July 21, 2025. -- Photo by Sai Aung MAIN / AFP YANGON (AFP): The United States has lifted sanctions on several allies of Myanmar's ruling general and their military-linked firms, a US Treasury notice shows, after the junta chief sent a glowing letter of praise to President Donald Trump. Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing seized power in a 2021 coup, deposing the civilian government and sparking a civil war that has killed thousands, leaving 3.5 million displaced and half the nation in poverty. Two weeks ago, the top general sent a letter to Trump, responding to his threat of tariffs by lauding his presidency with praise, including for shutting down US-funded media outlets covering the conflict. A US Treasury notice on Thursday said sanctions were dropped against KT Services and Logistics, the Myanmar Chemical and Machinery Company, and Suntac Technologies -- as well as their managers. In a statement, a US Treasury Department spokesperson denied there was an "ulterior motive" in the move, although the notice did not provide a reason for the removals. "Anyone suggesting these sanctions were lifted for an ulterior motive is uninformed and peddling a conspiracy theory driven by hatred for President Trump," said the spokesperson, on condition of anonymity. They added that individuals were "regularly added and removed" from the sanctions list "in the ordinary course of business." KT Services and Logistics and its CEO Jonathan Myo Kyaw Thaung were described as junta "cronies" when they were sanctioned in 2022 for leasing Yangon's port from a military firm for $3 million a year. The Myanmar Chemical and Machinery Company and its owner, Aung Hlaing Oo, and Suntac Technologies owner Sit Taing Aung were sanctioned later that year for producing arms, including tanks and mortars. A third Myanmar national, Tin Latt Min -- who the US previously described as owning "various companies that are closely related to the regime" -- was also removed from the sanctions list. Trump sent a letter to junta chief Min Aung Hlaing earlier this month, one among a raft of missives despatched to foreign leaders during his global tariff blitz. The letter -- believed to be Washington's first public recognition of the junta's rule since the coup -- threatened Myanmar with a 40 percent levy unless a trade deal was struck. Min Aung Hlaing responded with a multi-page letter expressing his "sincere appreciation" for Trump's message and praising his "strong leadership". - AFP
