ChinaPushesBackonNewU.S.TariffsDuringTradeMeetingsinFrance

Chinese and U.S. economic leaders met for trade consultations in France on March 15 and March 16, resulting in new agreements aimed at stabilizing bilateral relations amid a dispute over Washington’s recent tariff actions.

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The negotiators conducted “candid, in-depth and constructive” discussions focused on tariff arrangements, boosting trade and investment, and upholding previous agreements, according to state-run Xinhua News Agency.

During the talks, He pointed to the successes of last year’s five rounds of trade negotiations, noting they injected certainty into the global economy. However, He heavily criticized recent U.S. trade maneuvers. Following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that deemed tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to be illegal, Washington levied a 10% import surcharge on all trading partners under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. He also called out negative U.S. actions targeting China, including Section 301 investigations, corporate sanctions and market access restrictions.

Beijing consistently opposes unilateral U.S. tariffs, He said, urging Washington to completely remove the restrictive measures and warning that China will take necessary actions to defend its legitimate rights. Despite the friction, He emphasized hopes to work alongside the U.S. to expand areas of cooperation and shrink the list of disputes.

The American delegation agreed on the stakes. Bessent and Greer stated that stable economic relations are vital for both nations and the world, helping drive global growth, supply-chain security and financial stability. Both sides should aim to reduce friction, avoid escalating problems and resolve differences through consultations, Bessent and Greer noted.

Looking ahead, the officials agreed to study the establishment of a cooperative mechanism to promote bilateral trade and investment. They plan to continue utilizing the joint trade consultation framework to strengthen dialogue, manage differences and push the relationship in a positive direc

tion.