The Ministry of Commerce Photo: VCG

Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao sent a letter to the newly appointed US Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, on Wednesday, congratulating him on assuming the position as the 41st US Secretary of Commerce. Wang also raised concerns over the US decision to impose additional tariffs on Chinese imports.

Economic and trade relations are an important component of China-US relations. As the two largest economies in the world, strengthening the bilateral economic and trade cooperation is of significant importance to the development of both countries and to global economic growth, Wang said. 

Noting that over the past years, the trade ministries of both countries have played a key role in promoting and advancing bilateral economic and trade cooperation, Wang said China is willing to work with the US to strengthen dialogue, manage differences, and promote cooperation based on mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, in a bid to create a fair and predictable policy environment for practical cooperation between the business communities of both nations.

Regarding the US' decision to impose a 10 percent tariff on Chinese imports under the pretext of issues like fentanyl, the Chinese commerce minister stressed that China strongly opposed the move.

Both sides have already carried out extensive and in-depth cooperation on fentanyl control, achieving significant results, Wang said.

The US' unilateral tariff measures undermine normal economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, the Chinese minister said, noting that China hopes to address mutual concerns through equal dialogue and consultation.

Global Times