China’s Ministry of Commerce has characterized the recent tariff exemptions from the United States as a “small step,” calling on President Donald Trump to entirely eliminate the reciprocal tariffs that impose a staggering 145% duty on Chinese imports.
The ministry expressed its belief that the U.S. should listen to rational perspectives from both the international community and domestic associates. They urged the Trump administration to take significant steps to rectify its errors by abolishing the “wrongful action of ‘reciprocal tariffs'” and returning to a pathway of resolving disputes through equitable dialogue predicated on mutual respect, according to a statement translated by Finance Newso.
Furthermore, the ministry indicated that China is currently assessing the potential impacts of the recently announced tariff exemptions on certain technology products.
The White House has not yet issued a response to Finance Newso regarding this matter.
Reactions within China to the U.S. tariffs have emerged on both state-run and social media platforms. The latest round of exemptions is being interpreted domestically as a sign that Trump is retreating, reinforcing the notion that U.S. companies are struggling to replace Chinese supply chains.
Beijing Daily commented on the situation, stating that public sentiment largely perceives this as another concession from the U.S. government in its tariff strategies.
On Weibo, a widely used social media platform in China, the hashtag “Trump administration retreats again” has surged to become the second most popular topic on the hot search list.
In a significant development late Friday, the Trump administration exempted certain widely utilized tech devices and components, such as smartphones, computers, semiconductors, solar cells, and flash drives, from these reciprocal tariffs, as per the guidance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
This decision has been hailed as a substantial triumph for major technology firms, including Apple, which rely on manufacturing in China. However, experts have previously cautioned that the long-term ramifications of the China tariffs on the U.S. economy and smaller businesses could be lasting and detrimental.
Despite the announcement of these exemptions, a 20% tariff on all Chinese goods continues to remain in effect.
— Finance Newso’s Eunice Yoon contributed to this report
