TechFlow news, April 13 — According to CCTV News, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce answered questions from reporters regarding the U.S. exemption of "reciprocal tariffs" on certain products.
A reporter asked: The U.S. recently announced exemptions from "reciprocal tariffs" on certain products. What is China’s comment?
The spokesperson stated that on April 12, Washington time, the U.S. released a relevant memorandum exempting certain products—including computers, smartphones, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and integrated circuits—from "reciprocal tariffs." China is currently assessing the implications. We note that this marks the second adjustment by the U.S. following its April 10 decision to delay imposing high "reciprocal tariffs" on certain trading partners. This step, albeit small, reflects the U.S. beginning to correct its erroneous unilateral approach of imposing "reciprocal tariffs." Enacting such tariffs via a simple executive order not only violates fundamental economic and market principles but also disregards the complementary cooperation and supply-demand relationships between nations. Since their introduction on April 2, these "reciprocal tariffs" have failed to resolve any of America’s internal issues, while severely disrupting the international economic and trade order, significantly interfering with normal business operations and people’s daily lives and consumption—harming others without benefiting itself. China’s position on China-U.S. economic and trade relations remains consistent: there are no winners in a trade war, and protectionism offers no way out. As an old Chinese saying goes, “Only the one who tied the bell can untie it.” We urge the U.S. to heed rational voices both internationally and domestically, take substantial steps toward correcting its mistakes, completely abolish the erroneous practice of "reciprocal tariffs," and return to the right path of mutual respect and resolving differences through equal dialogue.
