China Rejects 'Overproduction' Claims, Opposes Unilateral Tariffs in Response to Trump’s Section 301 Trade Investigation

Chinese Experts Warn:
"Global Trade Will Face Even Greater Turmoil"

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump launched an investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act on the 11th (local time), prompting the Chinese government to push back, calling it a 'unilateral tariff measure.'

On March 12, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jia-kun stated at a regular briefing, "China's position on handling economic and trade issues between China and the United States has always been consistent and clear," adding, "We oppose all forms of unilateral tariff measures."

He continued, "A tariff war and a trade war do not serve the interests of either party," and added, "Both sides should negotiate and resolve relevant issues on the basis of equality, respect, and mutual benefit."

He further stated, "The so-called 'overproduction' is a false proposition, and the Chinese side opposes the political use of this issue."

In response to a question regarding President Trump's planned visit to China, he replied, "China and the United States are maintaining communication regarding exchanges between the two heads of state."

Yonhap News Agency

Earlier, the Office of the United States Trade Representative announced the launch of the Section 301 investigation through publication in the Federal Register. The investigation specifically named a total of 16 economic entities, including Korea, China, Japan, the European Union (EU), Vietnam, and India. Section 301 of the Trade Act grants the administration the authority to respond, including by imposing tariffs, to any 'unjustified, unreasonable, or discriminatory acts, policies, or practices of foreign governments that restrict or burden U.S. trade.'

On this day, Chinese state media also reported that Chinese experts criticized the U.S. measure as a reflection of a hegemonic mindset and an action that would cause disruption in global trade. The state-run English-language newspaper Global Times covered the news of the U.S. government initiating the Section 301 investigation. He Weiwen, a researcher at the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) think tank, said, "This action shows that the U.S. administration still sees tariffs as a tool to deal with other countries," adding, "Following the Supreme Court's invalidation of previous tariff-related measures, the U.S. administration is now attempting to prepare new tariffs."

He further commented, "Using overproduction as a justification for trade measures is not a new tactic," and added, "It is rooted in political considerations and fundamentally reflects a hegemonic mindset deeply embedded in trade policy."

Gao Lingwen, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, pointed out, "It is fundamentally contradictory for the United States to enjoy inexpensive, high-quality products from other countries while criticizing overproduction."

He went on to say, "Forcing companies to relocate production bases to the United States through administrative measures and political pressure will only increase production costs and ultimately harm U.S. consumers."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.