BEIJING/HONG KONG, Oct 13 — China called US President Donald Trump's latest tariffs on Chinese goods hypocritical yesterday and defended its curbs on exports of rare earth elements and equipment, but stopped short of imposing new levies on US products.
Trump on Friday responded to Beijing's most recent export controls by imposing additional tariffs of 100 per cent on China's US-bound exports, along with new export controls on critical software by November 1.
The revived trade tensions have rattled Wall Street, sending Big Tech shares tumbling, worried foreign companies dependent on China's production of processed rare earths and rare earth magnets, and could derail a summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping tentatively scheduled for later this month.
Responding to Trump
The Chinese commerce ministry's statement yesterday was Beijing's first direct response to Trump's lengthy Truth Social post on Friday, where he accused Beijing of suddenly raising trade tensions after an uneasy truce was reached six months ago between the world's two largest economies, allowing them to trade goods without sky-high tariff rates.
"Our relationship with China over the past six months has been a very good one, thereby making this move on Trade an even more surprising one," Trump said.
The commerce ministry said in an equally lengthy statement that its export controls on rare-earth elements followed a series of US measures since bilateral trade talks in Madrid last month.
Beijing cited the addition of Chinese companies to a US trade blacklist and Washington's imposition of port fees on China-linked ships as examples.
"The US actions have severely harmed China’s interests and undermined the atmosphere of bilateral economic and trade talks, and China is resolutely opposed to them," the ministry said.
Beijing stopped short of explicitly connecting these US actions to its export curbs on rare-earth elements, saying they were motivated by concern about these materials' military applications at a time of "frequent military conflicts".
It also held off on announcing a corresponding levy on China-bound US imports, unlike earlier in the year, when both superpowers progressively ratcheted up tariffs on each other until the US rate was 145 per cent while China's was 125 per cent.
Path for negotiations
China's decision not to immediately respond in kind to Trump's opening salvo in this latest round of trade tensions could leave the door open for both countries to negotiate a de-escalation, analysts said.
"By clarifying the rationale behind its retaliatory measures, Beijing is also outlining a potential path forward for negotiations. The ball is now in the US court," said Alfredo Montufar-Helu, managing director at strategic advisory firm GreenPoint.
But Hutong Research said in a note on Saturday that if Beijing chooses not to respond to Trump's 100 per cent tariff hike, it may signal that it no longer prioritises a long-term deal with him, reflecting diminished confidence in his ability to restrain hawks or stick to commitments.
China produces over 90 per cent of the world's processed rare earths and rare earth magnets. The 17 rare earths are vital materials in products ranging from electric vehicles to aircraft engines and military radars.
Exports of 12 of them are restricted after China's commerce ministry on Thursday added five — holmium, erbium, thulium, europium and ytterbium — along with related materials.
The commerce ministry statement on Sunday sought to reassure foreign companies spooked by the latest export curbs, promising to promote compliant trade by granting general-purpose licenses and license exemptions.
"China's export controls are not export bans," it said. "Any export applications for civilian use that comply with regulations will be approved, and relevant enterprises need not worry."
