China Urges More Trade Talks as Tariffs on U.S. Goods Begin

(Bloomberg) -- China urged trade talks with the U.S. to prevent greater damage to relations while saying that previously announced retaliatory measures on American imports took effect Monday.

The U.S. didn't respond to China's March 26 request for consultation on Washington's steel and aluminum tariffs, the Commerce Ministry said in a statement Monday, adding that officials have widespread public support for tougher measures and repeating Beijing's stance that disputes should be resolved with dialogue. China previously planned to seek compensation for trade lost because of the U.S. metals actions.

“A lot of people have expressed their endorsement to the measures via phone and email, and they support the government to take actions to defend the interest of the nation,” the ministry said of responses during a public comment period that ended March 31. “Some people suggested even stronger measures.”

That followed a statement Sunday from the Customs Tariffs Commission saying that previously announced tariffs on 128 kinds of imported goods originating in the U.S. would take effect from Monday. The reciprocal tariffs are valued at about $3 billion, which represents a tiny fraction of its U.S. imports.

Those are in response to the U.S. tariffs on metal that President Donald Trump announced in March on national security grounds. Beijing said the move violated World Trade Organization rules. The U.S. has since announced some exceptions for allies, including Australia and Canada.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told Fox News Monday that Trump is “ doing exactly what he said he was going to do” in order to reduce the U.S. trade deficit with China.

"The president knows that we're billions of dollars in a trade deficit with China,” she said. “He's tired of us being taken advantage of. They've taken our intellectual property, and the president's going to fight back and he's going to push back, but we want to be able to work with them to make sure we're getting a good deal."

China said Sunday the tariffs “caused serious damage” to its interests.

Items on Beijing's original hit-list, issued on March 23, included fresh and dried fruits, ginseng, nuts, wine, and pork, as well as certain steel products, and its value matches its exports of steel and aluminum to the U.S. So far, high-volume agricultural exports to China, such as soybeans, haven't been swept into the mix.

Read More: U.S. Envoy Says China Retaliation on Soybeans Would Backfire

China said earlier it could impose tariffs in two stages: a 15 percent duty on 120 products, and a 25 percent tariff on eight other products, including pork, after further assessing the impact of American tariffs. Sunday's announcement covered all 128 products simultaneously.

“This shows China has the tool box to counter the unfair trade actions from Washington,” said Li Yong, a senior fellow at the China Association of International Trade in Beijing. “It's very measured, and with no intention to escalate tension.”

Beyond the actions on metals, the Trump administration is preparing to propose a list of other Chinese products to be targeted with tariffs. Trump announced in March that the U.S. will impose duties on about $50 billion in Chinese goods to punish Beijing for what Washington sees as widespread violations of American intellectual property.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has until April 6 to release the list. U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on March 28 that an announcement on the measures will come “very shortly.” China has said it has a plan to act further if the import levies on its goods go ahead.

--With assistance from Ros Krasny

To contact Bloomberg News staff for this story: Miao Han in Beijing at mhan22@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jeffrey Black at jblack25@bloomberg.net, Jeff Kearns, James Mayger

©2018 Bloomberg L.P.

With assistance from Miao Han