Published: 17:26, February 27, 2025
Commerce Ministry: China firmly opposes US' restrictive trade moves
By Wang Keju
An aerial drone photo taken on Feb 18, 2025, shows the MSC SVEVA vessel docking at the container terminal of Dalian Port in Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning province. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

The Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday that China has expressed strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to the United States Section 301 investigation, which proposes to impose restrictive measures on China's maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors.

At a press conference, He Yadong, a ministry spokesperson, said the US Section 301 investigation is a blatant act of unilateralism and protectionism, violating the rules of the World Trade Organization.

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The proposed measures, including the imposition of port fees, will drive up global shipping costs, disrupt the stability of the global supply chain, and even increase inflationary pressures within the US, He said.

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This will ultimately undermine the global competitiveness of US goods, harming the interests of both consumers and businesses and jeopardizing the economic growth and job creation that the US aims to protect, He said.

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China has urged the US to respect the facts and adhere to multilateral rules, cautioning that further missteps will only exacerbate the situation. Beijing has vowed to closely monitor the US's actions and take all necessary measures to resolutely defend its interests, according to He.

wangkeju@chinadaily.com.cn