China requests “complete cancellation” of American prices while Xi Jinping approaches Southeast Asite

China has asked the United States on Sunday, reciprocal customs rates “to cancel completely”, in a new criticism of the commercial policy of Donald Trump, on the eve of the Xi Jinping tour in Southeast Asia providing on Monday (14) to strengthen the trade relations of its country in the midst of Washington.

“We are asking the United States to make a big step to correct its mistakes, completely cancel the poor practice of reciprocal customs duties and to return to the direct path of mutual respect,” a spokesman for the China Ministry of Commerce said in a statement.

This is the second invested in the weekend against this policy of increasing customs tariffs caused by the United States.

Saturday (12), Beijing had already presented himself as a defender of poor countries by publishing an appeal on Friday with the director general of the WTO Ngozi Okonjo-iweala, in which he warned against “serious damage” that these customs prices would inflict developing countries “in particular at the least.”

They “could even trigger a humanitarian crisis,” said Chinese trade, Wang Wenta.

On Sunday, the Ministry of Commerce, however, recognized the “small stage” carried out by Washington, which softened its position by exempting smartphones, computers and other electronic products from recent customs of 145% imposed by President Donald Trump. Chinese authorities are “measuring the impact” of this decision. This measure shook the world markets and led Beijing to retaliate on Friday, increasing their prices on all American products to 125%, a measure which entered into force on Saturday.

Semiconductors are exempt from 10% overload applied to most other American business partners, but Trump has not rejected the possibility that they can always be the target of specific customs tariffs. The American president said on Saturday that he would give a “very precise” response on Monday on the issue of possible semiconductor taxes.

These exemptions are a relief for American consumers, who may see the price of these popular products increase. They will also benefit the technology giants, such as Apple, which manufactures its iPhone and other main products in China, and Dell.

Exempt products represent more than 20% of American imports from China, according to American customs data from Chinese researcher Gerard Dipippo. This changing American management is “the best news possible for investors in China”.

XI goes to Southeast Asia to strengthen trade links

In the midst of the American customs offensive, Chinese President Xi Jinping begins a trip through Southeast Asia on Monday (14) to strengthen trade relations in his country and reveal it as a reliable partner, unlike the United States, which has launched a global commercial offensive.

XI must visit Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia, where he will meet his counterparts, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These are your first visits of the year outside of China.

Southeast Asia is essential to Chinese exports: last year, the countries of the regional block, the Anase, were their main beneficiaries, with a total of $ 586.5 billion in goods, according to data from Chinese Customs. Among them, Vietnam stood out with $ 161.9 billion, by far the highest value, ahead of Malaysia (101.5 billion dollars). It is true that after having announced additional customs of 46% for Vietnam and 24% for Malaysia, among other countries, Donald Trump said that he would make his request for 90 days.

The strengthening of links with their Southeast Asian neighbors can help offset the effects of the American commercial offensive, the largest importer of Chinese products in 2024.

China wants to “show that it is the opposite of the United States coercive and selfish”, explains Huong Le Thu, deputy director of Asia of the International Crisis Group.

Vietnam, the first country to receive Xi Jinping on Monday and Tuesday, has long opted for “bamboo diplomacy”, which consists in maintaining good relations with Beijing and Washington.

On the one hand, Hanoi shares us concerns about the actions of Beijing at sea in the south of China – that China, Vietnam and other countries partially claim – but at the same time maintains close economic ties with Beijing.

Malaysia, in turn, considers Xi's visit from Tuesday to Thursday as a testimony to government efforts to maintain “better trade relations with various countries, including China”, according to the Minister of Communications Fahmi Fadzil.

The Chinese chief is expected to visit Cambodia, one of his allies closest to the region on Thursday. Prime Minister Hun Manet recently said that “Sino-Cambojajanes (NO) relations had changed”. He added: “We will continue to make them solid.”

(With AFP information)