China tells US to back off on tariff threats, urges more talks

China’s export control is not a ban on exports, and applications that meet the regulations will be approved, the Commerce Ministry said Sunday.

China said the US should stop threatening it with higher tariffs and urged more negotiations on outstanding issues to agree on a trade deal, responding to President Donald Trump’s latest measures against Beijing.

China’s recent trade countermeasures on US-related issues were necessary, defensive actions, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Sunday. Beijing will take corresponding measures to safeguard its rights if the US persists in its actions, it said.

Trump on Friday announced an additional 100% tariff on China as well as export controls on “any and all critical software” beginning Nov. 1, hours after threatening to cancel an upcoming meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. That came after China added new port fees on US ships, started an antitrust investigation into Qualcomm Inc., and unveiled sweeping new curbs on its exports of rare earths and other critical materials.

“Threatening with high tariffs at every turn is not the right way to get along with China,” the Commerce Ministry said. “China urges the US to correct its wrong practices as soon as possible.”

China unveiled broad new curbs on its exports of rare earths and other critical materials last week. Overseas exporters of items that use even traces of certain rare earths sourced from China will now need an export license, it announced Thursday, citing national security grounds. Certain equipment and technology for processing rare earths and making magnets will also be subject to controls.

China’s export control is not a ban on exports, and applications that meet the regulations will be approved, the Commerce Ministry said Sunday. Before the measures were announced, China had notified relevant countries and regions through the bilateral export control dialogue mechanism, it added.

China has fully assessed the possible impact of the measures on the industrial and supply chains in advance and is convinced that the relevant impact is very limited, the ministry said. It added that the country is willing to strengthen dialogue and exchanges on export control with other nations to better maintain the security and stability of the global industrial and supply chains.