A roundtable for foreign-funded enterprises is held in Beijing on April 23, 2025. Photo: MOFCOM

Ling Ji, vice minister of commerce and deputy China international trade representative, chaired a roundtable with foreign-invested enterprises on Wednesday to discuss the impact of US tariff hikes on their operations and investment in China, vowing to further expand opening-up and urging firms to jointly defeat unilateralism and protectionism, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said in a statement on Thursday. 

The US' unilateralism and bullying behavior of abusing tariffs has drawn strong opposition from the international community, severely undermining the rules-based multilateral trading system and international economic order, disrupting global industrial and supply chains, and harming businesses worldwide, including those in China, Ling noted, adding that China has taken firm countermeasures to safeguard its legitimate interests and uphold international fairness and justice. 

The official called on foreign-invested enterprises to voice their rational views, strengthen their confidence, overcome difficulties, turn crises into opportunities, and jointly defeat unilateralism and protectionism, according to the MOFCOM. 

"China will continue to expand high-level opening-up, protect the lawful rights and interests of foreign-invested enterprises, and take more proactive steps to help address their operational challenges," Ling said, adding that efforts will be made to ensure stable and smooth industrial and supply chains, while working to address foreign-funded businesses' concerns.

Representatives from participating companies noted that despite a complex and challenging external environment, the Chinese government remains committed to addressing the concerns of foreign businesses, advancing its opening-up policy, and maintaining consistent, stable and predictable policies for foreign investment. They expressed their willingness to continue investing in China, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and tackle challenges together, according to the MOFCOM statement. 

The meeting, hosted by the China Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment, was attended by representatives of more than 80 foreign-funded enterprises and foreign chambers of commerce in China.

Global Times