The Ministry of Commerce of China File photo: VCG

China on Tuesday expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the US move of imposing port fees and other restrictive measures on China's maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors, a spokesperson of China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Tuesday. 

The comments came as the US started to impose port fees and other restrictive measures on China's maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors based on the so-called Section 301 probe starting on Tuesday US Eastern Time. 

The US move is a typical act of unilateralism and protectionism, which seriously violates World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and the principle of equality and reciprocity under the China-US maritime transport agreement, the spokesperson said.  

These actions grant unfair competitive advantages to certain countries' shipping and shipbuilding enterprises, constituting discriminatory practices against China's maritime and shipbuilding industries and seriously undermining their interests, the spokesperson noted.

China expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to these actions, and announced on October 10 the imposition of a special port service fee on vessels with US links, including those flying the US flag, built in the US, or owned, operated, or invested in by US companies, said the spokesperson.

On a further note, the MOFCOM spokesperson said that the US measures not only undermine the stability of global supply chains and sharply increase international trade costs, but also fuel domestic inflation in the US, weaken the competitiveness of US ports, hurt American jobs, and undermine its own supply chain security and resilience. Many voices within US industries have also opposed these actions, clearly showing that such practices harm others without benefiting the US itself and do nothing to advance its shipbuilding industry, the spokesperson said.

To further safeguard the interests of China's related industries, relevant Chinese authorities, in accordance with China's National Security Law, the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, and China's Regulations on International Maritime Transport, have placed certain companies that assisted or supported the US investigation on a countermeasure list, the spokesperson noted.  

China has also launched investigations into acts by the US and certain countries and enterprises that harm the security and development interests of China's shipping and shipbuilding sectors, the spokesperson said, noting that in conducting these investigations, China will adhere to the principles of openness, fairness, and impartiality, and fully protect the legitimate rights of all stakeholders.

China's position on relevant issues is clear and consistent - if forced to fight, China will fight to the end, and for talks, the door is open, the MOFCOM spokesperson said, urging the US to correct its wrongful doings, work in the same direction with China, and resolve mutual concerns through equal dialogue and consultation.

Global Times