China voices concern over new US trade curbs

China has raised strong concerns over the latest US trade restrictions, urging Washington to

BEIJING: China has raised strong concerns over the latest US trade restrictions, urging Washington to strengthen dialogue and maintain stable economic relations as both countries continue efforts to manage trade tensions.

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng expressed Beijing’s concerns during a video conference with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, according to Chinese state media.

During the talks, both sides held detailed discussions on implementing the agreements reached by the leaders of the two countries. The officials also exchanged views on maintaining stable economic and trade ties, expanding practical cooperation and addressing each other’s concerns through continued engagement.

Beijing criticized the latest US trade measures, including the recently announced 12.5% tariff on Chinese imports, describing them as a source of concern for bilateral economic relations.

Despite the differences, both sides agreed to continue using the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism to improve communication, strengthen mutual trust and reduce misunderstandings. They also pledged to expand cooperation and support the stable development of bilateral trade relations.

The discussions come ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s expected visit to the United States later this year, a meeting widely seen as an opportunity to ease tensions between the world’s two largest economies.

Earlier agreements between Beijing and Washington included China’s commitment to address US concerns over the supply of rare earth minerals and related processing technologies. China also agreed to increase purchases of US agricultural products through 2028 as part of broader efforts to stabilize trade relations.

The latest talks indicate that while differences remain over tariffs and trade policies, both governments continue to pursue diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation in economic disputes.