Q: Recently, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that the U.S. would continue with the Section 301 investigation concerning China’s implementation of the Economic And Trade Agreement Between The Government of The People’s Republic of China And The Government of The United States of America Phase One Agreement and might consider tariff measures. What is China’s comment on this?

A: China has noted the relevant remarks from the U.S. side. Following the entry into force of the Phase One Agreement in early 2020, China upheld the spirit of contract and worked hard to overcome the multiple adverse impacts of the sudden outbreak of the pandemic, subsequent supply chain disruptions, and global economic recession. China earnestly fulfilled its obligations under the agreement, completing commitments related to intellectual property protection and financial and agricultural market openness on schedule, and fully delivering on the expansion of trade cooperation. In contrast, the U.S. has tightened export control on China, restricted two-way investment, continuously escalated economic, trade, and other areas, which has hindered normal bilateral trade and investment activities. These measures have violated the spirit of the agreement and undermined the atmosphere and conditions for its implementation. The rights and wrongs on this matter have been comprehensively and thoroughly explained in the white paper China’s Position on Some Issues Concerning China-U.S. Economic and Trade Relations, released on April 9, 2025.

Since last year, China and the U.S. have held five rounds of economic and trade consultations, achieving a series of important outcomes and reaching multiple consensuses on the extension of the reciprocal tariff suspension, agricultural trade, export control, and the reduction of investment restrictions. During this process, the two sides have also engaged in communication about the Phase One Agreement on multiple occasions. China hopes that the U.S. side will adopt an objective and rational view of the implementation of the agreement and refrain from shifting blame and passing the buck or using it as an excuse for trouble-making or provocation. China is ready to work with the U.S. to follow the important consensus reached between the heads of state of the two countries, make good use of the economic and trade consultation mechanism, focus on the future and the implementation of existing economic and trade consensuses and outcomes, actively explore areas of converging interests between the two sides, and stay forward-looking together. If the U.S. insists on advancing the investigation or even imposes tariffs or other restrictive measures through the investigation, China will take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard its lawful rights and interests.