Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng will represent Beijing in the latest round of trade consultations with the United States, scheduled to take place in France. The negotiations, running from Saturday to Tuesday, mark the sixth meeting focused on economic and commercial issues between the two countries. Both sides are expected to address ongoing disputes involving tariffs and trade practices. The discussions come amid continuing tensions in global commerce.
Chinese officials have called on the United States to shift away from confrontational trade actions. They argue that constructive dialogue is the most effective way to resolve economic disagreements. The statement followed Washington’s launch of several trade probes targeting foreign industries. Beijing warned that these actions risk undermining cooperation.
According to Chinese authorities, the US has begun Section 301 investigations against 16 economies, including China. These probes are based on allegations of industrial overcapacity. China rejects the claim and described the investigations as unilateral actions that harm international trade stability. Officials cited rulings by the World Trade Organization stating that tariffs under Section 301 conflict with global trade rules.
Chinese representatives stressed that the global economy relies heavily on cross-border production networks. They said goods are produced and consumed across different regions, making international trade essential. Attempting to restrict production to domestic markets would weaken global commerce. Beijing therefore argues that labeling export-driven industries as overcapacity is misleading.
The government also highlighted additional US investigations concerning products allegedly linked to forced labor. These probes target dozens of economies, including China. Chinese authorities said they are reviewing the situation carefully and considering possible responses. Future developments may depend on the outcome of the trade talks in France.