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US using false trade claims to intimidate other countries: China

Beijing hits out at the US for resorting to “false accusations” on trade to intimidate other countries, hours after Washington’s biggest round of tariffs imposed on Chinese goods took effect amid an escalating trade dispute between the two economic powers.

In a 36,000-word white paper issued on Monday, the Chinese cabinet, known as the State Council, said the US’s “economic hegemony” poses a threat to the global multilateral trading system as well as Sino-US ties.

The US, it added, “has brazenly preached unilateralism, protectionism and economic hegemony, making false accusations against many countries and regions, particularly China, intimidating other countries through economic measures such as imposing tariffs, and attempting to impose its own interests on China through extreme pressure.”

At 0400 GMT, American tariffs on $200bn worth of Chinese imports as well as Beijing’s retaliatory tariffs on $60 billion worth of US products came into force

The two sides had already traded tariffs on $50bn worth of each other’s goods earlier this year.

China cancels talks with US amid tariffs battle

China has canceled delegation visit to US for trade talks in protest to Washington’s new tariffs.

In addition to the new tariffs, the US last week added new tensions to the already troubled ties with China by imposing sanctions on a Chinese military agency for purchasing Russian fighter jets and missiles.

China summoned the US ambassador to Beijing on Saturday and postponed joint military talks in protest against Washington’s move.

Beijing also recalled its naval chief from the US.

The latest US tariffs apply to almost 6,000 items, including handbags, rice and textiles, making them the largest round of trade tariffs yet from Washington.

Analysts predict that no negotiations would take place between Beijing and Washington for now as there are no signs of compromise in the protracted trade dispute.

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