Q: On July 23, EST, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) issued final measures based on its findings of the Section 301 investigation into the “failure to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labor,” imposing Section 301 tariffs on 60 economies, including China, with an additional 12.5% tariff on Chinese goods. What is China’s response to this?

A: We have taken note of the relevant developments. China has always opposed forced labor and has established a sound system of labor laws and regulations to resolutely prevent and combat forced labor practices. The United States, by contrast, has not only failed to ratify the Forced Labor Convention, 1930 (No. 29), but has also long manipulated the issue of “forced labor.” The latest move to initiate a Section 301 investigation and impose unilateral tariffs under the pretext of “forced labor” is a typical act of unilateralism and protectionism, which China firmly opposes.

We have also noted that the U.S. side has repeatedly indicated its intention to replace with Section 301 tariffs the tariffs previously imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the import surcharge imposed under Section 122—both of which have been ruled invalid by court decisions. During the China-U.S. economic and trade consultations, the U.S. side explicitly committed that the replacement tariffs on Chinese goods would not exceed 20%. At present, the replacement tariffs imposed by the U.S. side on Chinese goods stand at 12.5%. China’s countermeasures in response to the first round of the so-called fentanyl tariffs and reciprocal tariffs by the U.S. side remain in effect. We will continue to closely monitor and comprehensively assess the U.S. side’s subsequent actions, and reserve the right to take all necessary measures.

China urges the U.S. side to correct its wrongful practices and completely abolish the relevant unilateral tariff measures. China is ready to continue dialogue and consultations with the U.S. side on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit to address each other’s concerns. We hope that the U.S. side will pull with China in the same direction, jointly uphold and implement the consensus reached in the economic and trade consultations, continuously shorten the list of problems and lengthen the list of cooperation, and make greater contributions to a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability. (Released on July 27)