MOFCOM spokesperson He Yadong at a press conference on December 28, 2023 Photo: Tao Mingyang/GT

China's position against unilateral tariff measures has been consistent. The US should abide by WTO rules and work with China to promote the stable and sustainable development of China-US economic and trade relations in accordance with the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, He Yadong, a spokesperson from China's Ministry of Commerce, told a press conference on Thursday. 

He Yadong made the comments in response to a question about US president-elect Donald Trump's remarks on imposing an additional 10 percent tariff on Chinese imports once he takes office, and whether China is prepared for the worst as the world is generally worried about the outbreak of another trade war between the US and China.

President-elect Donald Trump threatened on Monday to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China as soon as he takes office as part of his effort to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs. He said he would impose a 25 percent tax on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10 percent tariff on goods from China, as one of his first executive orders, the Associated Press reported.

In response to the remarks, a Chinese embassy spokesperson in Washington told the Global Times in an emailed reply on Tuesday that "About the issue of US tariffs on China, China believes that China-US economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial in nature. No one will win a trade war or a tariff war."