China vows ‘resolute, effective measures’ after US' additional 50% tariff
Beijing, Apr 9 (PTI): China on Wednesday promised to take “resolute and forceful” measures to safeguard its rights and interests, after net total tariffs of 104 per cent by President Donald Trump on Chinese imports into the US took effect.
After Trump's additional 50 per cent tariffs on the world's second-largest economy, China has not announced any new tariffs on the US.
President Trump’s next round of punishing tariffs on some of America’s largest trading partners went into effect on Wednesday, including stiff new levies that will increase import taxes on Chinese goods by at least 104 percent.
Trump’s explosive new tariffs on 60 countries came into effect just after midnight Wednesday US time.
The additional tariffs on China kicked in after Beijing refused to meet Trump's deadline to withdraw its own retaliatory levies on the US.
Asked why China has not slapped retaliatory tariffs after Tuesday’s assertions to fight till the end and whether the two countries are holding talks to resolve the issue, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a media briefing here “China continues to take firm and resolute measures to safeguard our legitimate rights and interests”.
"We will not tolerate any attempt to harm China’s sovereignty, security and development interests”, he said.
"As for the dialogue you mentioned, if the US really wants to address the issue through talks it should take the attitude of equality respect and mutual benefit," he said.
"But right now, the US still abusing tariffs on China perusing maximum pressure and China opposes and never accepts such bullying and hegemonic acts," he said.
On April 2, the president imposed a 10 per cent global tariff on hundreds of countries and promised far steeper “reciprocal” tariffs on April 9 for nations that he maintains have “ripped off” America.
Since February, the president has imposed successive rounds of tariffs on China. On Wednesday, the minimum tax on Chinese imports hit 104 per cent.
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Pakistan condoles death of tourists in Pahalgam terror attack, says Foreign Office
Islamabad(PTI): Pakistan on Wednesday said it condoles the death of tourists in the terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 people.
“We are concerned at the loss of tourists’ lives in an attack in Anantnag district. We extend our condolences to the near ones of the deceased and wish the injured a speedy recovery,” Foreign Office spokesperson said responding to media queries about the attack.
Terrorists opened fire in Pahalgam on Tuesday afternoon, killing 26 people, mostly tourists, in what is the deadliest attack in the Valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019.
On Tuesday, The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the attack.
Officials said it was possible the terror group members had crossed over from Kishtwar in Jammu and reached Baisaran through Kokernag in south Kashmir.
Days earlier, Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir described Kashmir as Pakistan's “jugular vein,” triggering a sharp response from New Delhi.
“Our stance is very clear, it was our jugular vein, it will be our jugular vein, and we will not forget it. We will not leave our Kashmiri brothers in their heroic struggle,” Gen Munir said while addressing the first Overseas Pakistanis Convention in Islamabad on April 15.
The event was also attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, senior ministers and Pakistanis living abroad.
India had slammed Munir's remarks.
“How can anything foreign be in a jugular vein? This is a Union territory of India. Its only relationship with Pakistan is the vacation of illegally occupied territories by that country,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
