The Ministry of Commerce of China File photo: VCG

In response to a media inquiry over the United States Trade Representative (USTR)'s announcement on Thursday (US time) that it has initiated investigations of 60 economies including China to look for practices by these economies in relation to what ‌it called failures to take action on forced labor, a Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) spokesperson said on Monday that China has noticed the investigation launched by the US on March 12, and this is another Section 301 investigation launched by the US after it initiated a "capacity overproduction" Section 301 investigation on March 11.

The ministry spokesperson said on Monday that the US had previously "fabricated claims" of forced labor to impose a series of trade restrictions on Chinese products, noting that China had already lodged representations with the US side at the ongoing trade talks in Paris.

The US side has previously fabricated facts and imposed a series of trade restrictions on China under the pretext of "forced labor" and China has repeatedly expressed its firm opposition to such measures, the spokesperson said.

China has always opposed forced labor and is one of the founding members of the International Labor Organization and has ratified 28 international labor conventions. China has also established a comprehensive system of labor laws and regulations and takes firm action to prevent and combat forced labor, the MOFCOM spokesperson said.

At the same time, the US has yet to ratify the 1930 Forced Labor Convention, refusing to be bound by international rules while frequently using the issue of forced labor as a political tool.

By launching the Section 301 investigation against China and other economies, the US is attempting to erect new trade barriers, the ministry said, describing the move as extremely unilateral, arbitrary and discriminatory.

A WTO panel had previously ruled that the US Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods violate WTO rules. The US has once again abused the Section 301 investigation procedure, placing domestic law above international rules, which is taking another wrong step forward, the ministry said, saying the act seriously undermines the security and stability of the global industrial and supply chains and seriously disrupts the international economic and trade order.

China and the US are holding a new round of economic and trade talks in Paris and China has already lodged representations with the US side, the spokesperson said. China urged the US 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 dialogue and consultation.

China will closely monitor the progress of the US investigation and reserve the right to take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests, the ministry said.

Global Times