China accuses the US of “unilateral bullying” following a American push for allies to impose tariffs over China’s purchase of Russian oil. This sharp accusation fuels tensions as officials from both nations engage in critical trade talks in Madrid.
The Chinese commerce ministry issued a formal statement on Monday, strongly opposing Washington’s request. The U.S. has urged Group of Seven (G7) and NATO nations to enact secondary tariffs on Chinese imports. Beijing labeled this strategy a “classic example of unilateral bullying and economic coercion.”
Trade Talks Proceed Amid Rising Tensions
Meanwhile, Chinese and U.S. negotiators are in a second day of discussions in Spain. Their goal is to find common ground on persistent trade disputes. Key topics include existing tariffs and a U.S. mandate for Chinese owner ByteDance to divest from TikTok.
However, this new dispute over Russian oil purchases threatens to derail progress. The U.S. push is part of broader efforts to enforce sanctions against Russia. For more on the international sanctions regime, you can read the official U.S. Department of State sanctions policy.
Additional Strains on US-China Relations
Furthermore, another conflict emerged separately on Monday. China’s market regulator announced that a preliminary investigation found U.S. chipmaker Nvidia violated the country’s anti-monopoly law. This adds another layer of complexity to the already fraught economic relationship.
A Fragile Truce and Thorny Issues
Despite a fragile tariff truce extended in August, relations remain sour. Negotiators continue to grapple with deeply challenging issues. These include U.S. restrictions on technology and chip exports to China.
Additionally, Washington is concerned about China’s support for Russia amidst its war in Ukraine. The insufficient stemming of fentanyl precursor chemicals flowing into the U.S. is another major point of contention. The current push for tariffs over Russian oil imports directly touches on several of these sensitive areas.
In its concluding remarks, the Chinese ministry urged the U.S. to be “prudent in words and deeds.” It emphasized that resolving differences requires “equal dialogue” rather than coercive measures. The outcome of the Madrid talks is now even more critical for global economic stability.
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