Chinese and U.S. officials concluded their sixth round of economic and trade consultations in Paris this weekend, with Beijing sharply criticizing Washington's recent tariff hikes and back-to-back trade investigations.
The two-day talks, held March 15-16, were led by Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng (何立峰) and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. According to China's state news agency Xinhua, He characterized recent U.S. actions—including corporate sanctions and investigations under Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974—as negative measures targeting China, while reiterating Beijing's firm opposition to unilateral tariff increases.
The meetings follow a flurry of U.S. trade actions. On March 11, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) launched a Section 301 investigation into Chinese industrial overcapacity. A day later, the USTR announced a second probe targeting 60 economies, including China, over allegations of failing to prohibit imports produced with forced labor. Section 301 grants the U.S. president authority to impose unilateral sanctions, such as tariff hikes, to counter foreign trade practices deemed unfair or discriminatory.
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During the talks, He addressed recent shifts in U.S. trade policy following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that deemed tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act unlawful. In response to the ruling, Washington moved to impose a 10% import surcharge on all trading partners under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974.
He urged the U.S. to fully rescind the unilateral tariffs and restrictive measures, warning that China would take necessary steps to defend its legitimate rights and interests. Despite the friction, the vice premier noted that five previous rounds of consultations had injected stability into the global economy, and he called on Washington to work with Beijing to expand cooperation and narrow disputes.
U.S. officials emphasized a desire for de-escalation. The American delegation stated that stable bilateral economic and trade relations are critical for global economic growth, supply chain security, and financial stability. They urged both sides to minimize friction, avoid escalation, and resolve differences through consultation.
Li Chenggang (李成鋼), China's vice minister of commerce and international trade negotiation representative, described the day-and-a-half-long discussions as candid, in-depth, and constructive. Li noted that the two sides discussed current tariff levels and the uncertainty created by Washington's recent policy adjustments.
China formally objected to the recent Section 301 probes during the meetings.
"We are worried about the disruption and damage that the possible outcomes of these investigations could cause to the hard-won stability in China-U.S. economic and trade relations."
Li added that Beijing will closely monitor the progress of the investigations and take appropriate, timely measures to protect its interests.
Despite the disputes, both delegations affirmed that a stable economic relationship benefits both nations and the broader global economy. The two sides agreed to explore establishing a cooperative mechanism to promote bilateral trade and investment, strengthen communication, and continue utilizing the existing consultation framework to manage their differences.
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