BEIJING/HONG KONG (Reuters) -China expressed respect for the U.S. election end result and congratulated Donald Trump on his victory, and an official newspaper referred to as for a “pragmatic” method to bilateral variations as U.S. tariff threats loomed.
Trump, a Republican who has promised to implement stiff tariffs, recaptured the White Home with a sweeping victory over Democrat Kamala Harris in Tuesday’s election. He’ll take workplace in January.
“We respect the selection of the American individuals and congratulate Mr. Trump on his election as president,” a Chinese language overseas ministry spokesperson mentioned in an announcement late on Wednesday.
China-U.S. relations have been fraught for years, notably round commerce and safety together with Taiwan and the South China Sea.
Trump’s win might revive points from his 2017-2021 first presidency, when he began a commerce warfare with the world’s second-largest economic system and imposed tariffs.
Chinese language state-run newspaper China Day by day in an editorial on Wednesday portrayed Trump’s second presidency as a possible “new starting in China-U.S. relations if the prospect that has been supplied will not be wasted.”
The Biden administration didn’t dismantle Trump’s commerce insurance policies and continued to focus on China’s state-driven industrial practices.
In September, it locked in steep tariff hikes on Chinese language imports, together with a 100% responsibility on electrical autos, 50% on photo voltaic cells and 25% on metal, aluminum, EV batteries and key minerals, in a bid to guard strategic American industries.
The subsequent U.S. administration can strengthen dialogue and communication with China to deal with variations, China Day by day mentioned.
However a menace by Trump to impose 60% tariffs on U.S. imports of Chinese language items poses main progress dangers for China.
Not solely are the threatened tariffs a lot greater than the 7.5%-25% levied on China throughout Trump’s first time period, the Chinese language economic system can be in a way more weak place because it faces a steep property downturn, burdensome native authorities debt and weak home demand.
U.S. insurance policies and “misconceptions” in the direction of China have posed vital challenges for relations, China Day by day mentioned.
“A realistic method to bilateral relations is crucial in navigating the complexities of worldwide challenges.”
The correct dealing with of China-U.S. relations, which the newspaper referred to as the world’s most necessary bilateral relationship, “not solely serves the frequent pursuits of each nations but additionally will inject higher certainty and stability into the world.”
