Tariffs should not become tools for coercion, bullying, or interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning on Friday when asked to comment on the U.S. tariff hike on Brazil.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday afternoon that tariffs of 50 percent will be charged on goods imported from Brazil, effective on August 1, "due in part to Brazil's insidious attacks on Free Elections and the fundamental Free Speech Rights of Americans."
"Sovereign equality and non-interference in internal affairs are fundamental principles of the UN Charter and basic norms of international relations. Tariffs should not be used as a tool for coercion, bullying, or interference in other countries' internal affairs," said Mao at a press briefing in Beijing.
Tariffs should not be used as tool for bullying other countries: spokeswoman
Tariffs should not be used as tool for bullying other countries: spokeswoman
Tariffs should not be used as tool for bullying other countries: spokeswoman
Officials from the European Union (EU) and Finland have voiced concerns after the White House said it has been discussing "a range of options" to acquire Greenland, including the use of the military.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told a press briefing in Cairo on Thursday that the message from the U.S. is "extremely concerning," and "not really helping the stability of the world."
Kallas called on all parties to stick to international law, adding that relevant response measures has been discussed among EU members.
"The international law is very clear, and we have to stick to it. It is clear that it is the only thing that protects smaller countries, and that is why it is in the interest of all of us. And we discussed this today, as well, that we uphold the international law on all levels," she said.
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen on Thursday described recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump and members of his administration on Greenland as "worrying," while reiterating Finland's support for Denmark and Greenland's right to self-determination.
"Finland and the other Nordic countries have exceptional expertise in Arctic conditions, and we are happy to make use of that together with our North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies to strengthen Arctic security, but it cannot be done by threatening allies," she said at a press conference at Finnish parliament after an extraordinary meeting of the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee.
Johannes Koskinen, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said it was "unprecedented" for threats of violence to be made within NATO against another member in connection with seizing territory, adding that such threats run counter to the United Nations Charter and that their inconsistency with international law should be underscored at all levels.
EU, Finnish officials express concerns over US remarks on Greenland
