Chen Daojiang | Unreasonable tariffs benefit no one – Cooperation is the right path

Recently, the United States (US) government has wielded the big stick of tariff and launched a flurry of indiscriminate attacks against many countries, ignoring the widespread objection. Unsurprisingly, China was put in the cross hairs of the US tariffs again.

But that was not all. The US insisted on using the fentanyl issue as an excuse to raise tariffs on Chinese imports twice, consecutively, in one month. The modus operandi remind me of two Chinese idioms. One is, literally, “bite the hand that feeds you”, and the other one is “sow the wind whereas reap the whirlwind”.

The US hyping fentanyl as an excuse is exactly the scenario of “bite the hand that feeds you”. China is one of the countries carrying out the strictest and most thorough drug control policies. There is no substantial abuse of fentanyl in China. However, in the spirit of humanity and goodwill towards the American people, China has taken robust steps to assist the US in dealing with the issue. As early as in 2019, at the request of the US, China officially scheduled all fentanyl-related substances and is the first country in the world ever to do so. The white paper, ‘Controlling Fentanyl-Related Substances – China’s Contribution ’, was released by China on March 4, which gives a panorama of the strong and effective work China has done. The root of the US fentanyl crisis grows in the US. The fundamental solution is to reduce its domestic demand and to strengthen international law-enforcement cooperation. Shifting the blame to others is like treating an internal illness by external treatment, and therefore not helpful at all.

NO WINNERS

The US will inevitably “sow the wind whereas reap the whirlwind” by hiking tariffs on Chinese imports over fentanyl. There are no winners in trade wars or tariff wars. Studies by the US-China Business Council and other institutions show that the previous round of US-led trade war against China costed the US 200,000-strong jobs. According to data released by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, the US international trade deficit in 2024 increased by 50 per cent, compared to before the tariff war against China. The US practice of imposing tariffs over fentanyl blatantly disregards the results of China-US cooperation on drug control and severely violates WTO rules. It will not only fail to solve its own drug problems, but be detrimental to both sides and the world. China doesn’t pursue a trade war, or a tariff war, but if the US has other agenda in mind and if war is what it wants, China is left with no other option but to fight against the unilateral bullying till the end, and to resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests. By then, I’m afraid the US will have to face the whirlwind sewn by itself.

As a Chinese idiom reads, “Only by following the right path can one achieve far-reaching goals.” Looking back over the history of human civilisation for thousands of years, human societies had been prosperous, stable and moving forward whenever openness and cooperation were active. In the current context, China has always firmly promoted high-quality development and high-level opening up in the face of increasing uncertainties in the world economy. China granted zero-tariff treatment to 100 per cent of the tariff categories of all 43 least developed countries with which it has diplomatic relations, and the overall level of tariff fell to 7.3 per cent, close to the developed-world average. It achieved a zero threshold for access to foreign investment in the manufacturing sector, and China’s openness index increased by 11.89 per cent, compared to that of 2008. Looking ahead, China will remain the anchor and engine of the world economy.

COOPERATION

President Xi Jinping has made it clear that “win-win cooperation is the trend of the era and the fundamentals of Sino-US relations”. In the 46 years since the diplomatic relation was established, Sino-US relations have gone through ups and downs, but one thing has never changed and will never change: only cooperation between China and the US can produce mutual benefits and win-win outcomes. Ancient Chinese sages said, “Trade is the way of mutual kindness and benefit.” The inscription at the gate of the US Commerce Research Library reads, “Cultivate peace and commerce with all.” Mutual benefit and reciprocity are the same in both ancient and modern times, and China and the US are no exception to this. The interests of the two countries are deeply intertwined, and it is not surprising that there are disagreements and differences, but these should not be a barrier to their cooperation.

From each and every point of view, China and the US have vast common interests, which should inspire both sides to become partners, not adversaries; to reach out to each other, not hurt each other; and to find common ground while reserving differences, rather than engage in bitter competition. I urge the US to look at and address its fentanyl problem objectively and rationally, to correct its unacceptable practices as quickly as possible, to promote stable, healthy and sustainable development of Sino-US relations, and to constructively contribute to the peace and stability of the world.

Chen Daojiang is ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Jamaica and permanent representative of the People’s Republic of China to the International Seabed Authority. Send feedback to xiajamaica@gmail.com.