China has issued a report blaming the United States for a trade dispute and says it won't back down on "major issues of principle".
The statement from the Cabinet spokesman's office on Sunday said that China has kept its word throughout 11 rounds of talks and will honour its commitments if a trade agreement is reached.
"A country's sovereignty and dignity must be respected, and any agreement reached by the two sides must be based on equality and mutual benefit," it said.
The US has accused China of stealing trade secrets and forced technology transfers. The Trump administration has imposed 25 per cent tariffs on $US250 billion ($A360 billion) in Chinese imports and is planning to tax the $US300 billion in imports that have so far been spared. It also escalated the stakes this month by putting the Chinese telecom giant Huawei on a blacklist that effectively bars US companies from supplying it with computer chips, software and other components without government approval.
Beijing responded by imposing tariffs on $US60 billion worth of US products, which went into effect on Saturday. It also retaliated against the US blacklisting of Huawei by announcing on Friday that it will establish its own list of "unreliable entities" consisting of foreign businesses, corporations and individuals.
Wang Shaowen, vice commerce minister and deputy international trade representative (AP Photo / Andy Wong / MANILA BULLETIN)
The report lays out China's argument for blaming Washington for the frictions as well as the costs to both sides.
"Whatever the future might bring, China is confident of meeting challenges head on, turning risks into opportunities and opening new chapters," it said. "China remains committed to its own cause no matter how the external environment changes."
"We still have sufficient room for fiscal and monetary policy manoeuvre" to maintain health of the Chinese economy amid frictions, it said.
Wang Shaowen, vice commerce minister and deputy international trade representative, said China had been forced to "take forceful measures in response" to US actions and denied China had backtracked on its earlier commitments."It is irresponsible of the US to accuse and smear China," Wang said.
He told a news conference the US goods and services deficit with China is actually closer to $US150 billion and not the $US410 billion quoted by US officials. China's processing trade with the US should not be included in trade deficit calculations, he added.
Wang said China should not be blamed for job losses in the US manufacturing sector. He also said China does not instruct domestic companies to acquire certain projects and technology.
Wang said the US had made unacceptable demands, including on tariffs and compulsory requirements that infringed on Chinese sovereignty.
He said of the US tactics: "You give them an inch, they take a yard."
Source AAP
