Ministry of Commerce: Substantially reducing bilateral tariffs between China and the United States is in the common interests of both countries and the world
China Media Group International Online
May 12, 2025 22:13:59
International Online News: According to the Ministry of Commerce website, from May 10 to 11 local time, the Chinese chief negotiator of China-US economic and trade, Vice Premier He Lifeng, and the US chief negotiators, US Treasury Secretary Bessant and Trade Representative Greer, held high-level China-US economic and trade talks in Geneva, Switzerland. The two sides had candid, in-depth and constructive communication on the implementation of the important consensus reached during the phone call between the Chinese and US heads of state on January 17 this year, and reached a series of important consensus in the economic and trade fields. At 9:00 a.m. local time on May 12, the two sides issued the "Joint Statement of the China-US Geneva Economic and Trade Talks." The Ministry of Commerce spokesperson made a statement on this matter.
The spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce stated in the conversation that since April 2025, the US government has imposed so-called "reciprocal tariffs" on China on the basis of its previous unilateral tariffs, and China has taken firm and legitimate countermeasures. Subsequently, the United States successively escalated its tariff measures, raising the "reciprocal tariff" rate on China from 34% in the first round to 84% and 125% respectively. The high tariffs imposed by the United States seriously damage normal bilateral economic and trade exchanges and seriously undermine the international economic and trade order. The joint statement reached during the talks was an important step for both sides to resolve differences through equal dialogue and consultation, laying the foundation and creating conditions for further bridging differences and deepening cooperation.
The spokesperson said that the two sides reached a number of positive consensus in the joint statement. The two sides recognize the importance of bilateral economic and trade relations to the economies of both countries and the global economy, and the importance of sustainable, long-term and mutually beneficial bilateral economic and trade relations, and will continue to advance relevant work in the spirit of mutual openness, continuous communication, cooperation and mutual respect. The two sides agree to jointly take the following measures:
The United States pledged to cancel a total of 91% of tariffs imposed on Chinese goods pursuant to Executive Order No. 14259 of April 8, 2025 and Executive Order No. 14266 of April 9, 2025, and to amend the 34% reciprocal tariffs imposed on Chinese goods pursuant to Executive Order No. 14257 of April 2, 2025, of which 24% of tariffs will be suspended for 90 days and the remaining 10% of tariffs will be retained. Accordingly, China has canceled a total of 91% of its retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods; in response to the U.S.'s 34% retaliation tariffs, China has suspended 24% of the tariffs for 90 days, and retained the remaining 10%.
China has also suspended or canceled its non-tariff countermeasures against the United States accordingly.
The two sides agreed to establish a China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism, maintain close communication on their respective concerns in the economic and trade fields, and conduct further consultations. The Chinese representative was Vice Premier He Lifeng, and the US representatives were Treasury Secretary Bessant and Trade Representative Greer. The two sides will conduct consultations regularly or irregularly in China and the United States, or in an agreed third country. As needed, the two sides may conduct working-level consultations on relevant economic and trade issues.
The spokesperson pointed out that this high-level economic and trade talks between China and the United States achieved substantial progress and significantly reduced the level of bilateral tariffs. The United States canceled a total of 91% of its additional tariffs, and China correspondingly canceled 91% of its retaliatory tariffs. The United States suspended the implementation of a 24% "reciprocal tariff", and China also correspondingly suspended the implementation of a 24% retaliatory tariff. This move is in line with the expectations of producers and consumers in both countries, and is also in line with the interests of both countries and the common interests of the world. We hope that the US side will build on this meeting and continue to work with China to thoroughly correct the wrong practice of unilateral tariff increases, continuously strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, maintain the healthy, stable and sustainable development of China-US economic and trade relations, and jointly inject more certainty and stability into the world economy.
商务部:中美大幅降低双边关税水平 符合两国和世界共同利益
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