New Delhi, August 21: China “fully opposes” the United States’ decision to impose tariffs of up to 50 per cent on Indian goods and its threat of further hikes, Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong said on Thursday, warning that such measures disrupt the global economic and trade system.
“The United States imposed tariffs of up to 50 per cent on India, and even threatened to impose more. China fully opposes it,” Xu said while addressing an event at the India International Centre.
The remarks come just days after India and China announced a series of confidence-building measures to stabilise their ties, including reopening border trade, resuming direct flight connectivity, encouraging investment flows and jointly maintaining peace along the frontier.
The announcements followed talks in New Delhi between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indian counterparts, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Both sides issued a joint document describing their intent to build a “stable, cooperative and forward-looking” relationship.
Xu suggested that the US tariff policy was part of broader trade “wars” affecting many economies worldwide. His comments also come at a time when India’s ties with Washington have been strained by US trade policies.
Looking ahead to the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China, Xu said Beijing was ready to work with all parties, including India, to ensure a successful meeting. “We want the summit to reflect friendship, solidarity and fruitful outcomes,” he said.
Invoking closer cooperation between Asia’s two largest countries, Xu added: “Together, we can open a new chapter of a dragon-elephant tango.”
