China today called on the United States to lift “illegal unilateral tariff measures.” This was in response to a US court ruling blocking most of the extensive tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. The British government said the court’s decision was a US domestic matter and pointed out that this was only the first stage of the legal process.
China calls on the US to lift tariffs
When asked at a press conference how the US court ruling would affect negotiations with China, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said that China had already made its position on tariffs clear many times. She added that there are no winners in a tariff or trade war.
Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson Che Jung-čchien, at a separate press conference, called on the United States to take into account the rational voices of the international community and domestic stakeholders and to fully lift the tariffs, according to Reuters.
Britain responds to US tariffs, court questions Trump’s approach
A British government spokesman said that the US must decide on these matters domestically and that Britain had taken note of the decision. He stressed that Britain was the first country to secure a trade agreement with the US and is now working to ensure that businesses can benefit from the agreement as quickly as possible.
On Wednesday, a US trade court suspended the tariffs that President Donald Trump imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a law designed to address unusual and extraordinary threats during times of national emergency. These are mainly so-called reciprocal tariffs, which Trump imposed on a number of countries around the world, including the European Union, at the beginning of April, but also tariffs previously imposed on China, Canada, and Mexico. According to the court, the imposition of tariffs is the prerogative of Congress. The White House has appealed the decision, and its spokesman has questioned the court’s authority.
Source: Reuters
