China's Ministry of Commerce on Monday slammed the United States for launching the latest Section 301trade investigation aimed at 60 economies, including China, over the alleged failures to ban imports made with "forced labor", calling it typical act of protectionism that severely disrupts the international economic and trade order.
China has noted that on March 12 local time, the United States launched the new Section 301 trade investigation against the 60 economies on the grounds of "failing to prohibit the import of products made with forced labor," which came just one day after it launched another Section 301 trade investigation into 16 economies, including China, citing "overcapacity", a spokesperson from the ministry said.
The spokesperson condemned the United States for fabricating claims about "forced labor" to impose a series of trade restrictions on Chinese products, noting that China had repeatedly expressed its firm opposition to such measures.
The spokesperson reiterated that China has consistently opposed forced labor and is one of the founding members of the International Labour Organization.
China has ratified 28 international labor conventions and established a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework to resolutely prevent and combat forced labor, the spokesperson noted.
The spokesperson also criticized the United States for not ratifying the Forced Labour Convention (1930) and manipulating the forced labor issue to build trade barriers.
The new investigation, the spokesperson said, is unilateral, arbitrary, and discriminatory, amounting to a typical act of protectionism.
A World Trade Organization (WTO) panel has already ruled that the U.S. Section 301 tariffs against China violate WTO rules, the spokesperson said, adding that the United States is once again abusing the 301 investigation process and placing domestic law above international norms, which is a mistake on top of its mistakes, seriously undermining the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains and severely disrupting the international economic and trade order.
The spokesperson said that China has raised the issue with the United States at the ongoing trade talks in Paris, and urged the United States to immediately correct its wrongdoings, work with China in the same direction, adhere to the principles of mutual respect and equal consultation, and seek solutions through dialog and negotiation.
China will closely monitor the investigation's progress and reserves the right to take all necessary measures to defend its legitimate interests, said the spokesperson.
China slams latest US 301 trade probe as typical act of protectionism
China slams latest US 301 trade probe as typical act of protectionism
