China slams US ‘lies’ as tariff hike looms

China on Friday accused the United States of repeatedly lying about the effects of the trade war on its economy as Beijing prepares to hike tariffs on American goods ranging from wine to pianos and condoms.

Saturday’s retaliatory tariff increase will cap a week that was marked by a heated war of words and Chinese threats to curb exports of rare earths, which are key to US tech industries, after President Donald Trump blacklisted telecom giant Huawei.

The latest target of Beijing’s ire were comments by Trump stating that the US tariffs have had a “devastating effect” on the Chinese economy.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a regular press briefing: “The US side has said such lies not just once or twice. Every time China exposes them in time, but the US seems to be very persistent, even obsessed, and keeps repeating these lies.”

Washington and Beijing resumed their tariffs battle earlier this month after trade talks in Washington ended without a deal, with the US side accusing Chinese negotiators of reneging on previous commitments.

The countries have exchanged tariffs on $360 billion in two-way trade so far.

Trump more than doubled punitive tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods to 25% and launched the process to hit nearly all remaining imports from the Asian country.

“I can tell you, China very much wants to make a deal,” Trump said Thursday. “China is becoming a very weakened nation.”

China responded by announcing that it would increase tariffs on $60 billion in American products on June 1, giving some room for a potential resolution which has not materialised.

Since then, China has warned that the US must show “sincerity” if negotiations are to resume and angry officials accused Washington this week of engaging in “naked economic terrorism”.

The US tariffs appear to have already had an impact on Chinese manufacturing activity, which contracted more than expected this month, official data showed on Friday. Experts note that US consumers and importers bear the brunt of tariffs on products coming into the United States.

Gin, lipstick, and footballs

Now China is hitting back Saturday with tariffs ranging from 5% to 25% on 5,410 products.

Those facing the 25% hike include:

– Beauty products such as perfume, eye makeup, and lipstick.

– Kitchenware such as ovens, microwaves, and coffee machines.

– Sports equipment including tennis table balls, badminton rackets, and footballs.

– Pianos and string instruments.

– Liquor including gin, wine, and tequila.

– Other items include condoms, diamonds, industrial robots, tires, fabric, wood, and toys.

Tariffs are not the only weapons in the trade war.

The Trump administration has issued orders to curtail Huawei’s access to American components it needs for its equipment – although a 90-day reprieve was issued.

Chinese state media suggested this week that Beijing could hit back by stopping exports of rare earths to the United States, cutting off key materials used to make everything from smartphones to televisions and military equipment.

Chinese mines accounted for 71% of the world’s rare earths production in 2018, according to the US Geological Survey, down from 80% in 2017 and 95% a decade ago.

Cutting off exports to the US could give Beijing leverage in trade talks as China supplies 80% of the rare earths imported by the United States.

But analysts say China may be reluctant to target the materials because it could hasten a global search for alternative supplies of rare earths.

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