The United States withdrew its 100% tariff and hoped that China would be merciful. Unexpectedly, when the time came, China's countermeasures were implemented on time. Recently, after China issued new rules on rare earths, the United States could not sit still. On the one hand, Trump threatened to impose a 100% tariff on China, and on the other hand, he threatened to cancel plans to meet with China at the APEC summit. But I didn't expect that the United States would change its tune only four days after China's announcement was issued.
Trump claimed that he still looked forward to meeting with China. At the same time, US Vice President Vance also stepped forward and emphasized that "both China and the United States should return to rationality" and that the trade war should not be fought again. Recently, U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessant even emphasized that the 100% tariff claimed by Trump will not be implemented, which means that the United States is likely to withdraw the 100% tariff. The implication is that I still hope that China can show mercy.
But what the US side didn't expect was that as soon as the time arrived on October 14th, the Chinese side raised its knife and fell, and the counter-measures were implemented on time, not giving the US time to breathe.
Recently, China has made a combination boxing, not only announcing the new rare earth regulations, but also taking reciprocal counter-measures against the United States, charging special port fees on American ships, which will be officially implemented on October 14th. On October 14th, China's Ministry of Transport officially issued the Implementation Measures for Collecting Special Port Fees for American Ships, which marked the effective of China's trade counter-measures against the United States as scheduled.
On October 14, countermeasures against the United States were officially implemented, reflecting China's high degree of certainty in its external countermeasures. According to Reuters analysis, after the Chinese measures take effect, a U.S. ship carrying more than 10,000 containers may be charged as much as US$1 million. This economic pressure will be directly passed on to U.S. shipping companies, prompting them to put pressure on the U.S. government. However, the "Measures" still leave room, clarifying that the scope, standards, and starting and ending times of collection will be dynamically adjusted according to the situation, leaving room for subsequent negotiations.
Moreover, from the perspective of international law, China's actions are in line with the principle of reciprocity in the basic principles of international law. You know, it was the United States that took the first charging measures against Chinese ships on April 17th, which seriously violated WTO rules and the Sino-US maritime agreement and destroyed the maritime trade between China and the United States. Therefore, China's counter-measure is legitimate and a necessary response after fruitless negotiations through diplomatic channels. Moreover, compared with the repetition of Trump administration policies, China has shown stronger policy coherence and predictability. It was announced on October 10th that the clear measures will take effect on October 14th and will finally be implemented on time. It also tells the US a truth that the restrictive measures provoked by the US will eventually shoot itself in the foot.
This time, China's phased implementation strategy, It also has characteristics. The four-year gradual rate increase arrangement not only gives the market an adaptation period, but also leaves room for future negotiations. This gradual adjustment avoids the sudden impact on trade and reflects China's cautious attitude in counter-measures.
The strategic significance of China's counter-measure is that it shows that China is no longer limited to the traditional tariff counter-measure in international trade disputes, but has developed more precise tools, aiming at the relatively weak American shipbuilding industry and the strong asymmetric advantages of China's shipbuilding industry. China's measures can produce greater results.
But in any case, if the US revokes or modifies its tariff measures against Chinese ships, China may also adjust accordingly, moreover, the financial market has made a choice, and after Bezent revealed that "100% tariffs will not necessarily happen", the three major indices of the U.S. stock market will all rise.
But it is still that word, China-U.S. law is two profits, the struggle is wounded, the Chinese ships special port fee measures land in time, is only the tip of the ice of China counter toolbox, the Ministry of Commerce has long been clear, "If the U.S. will continue substantial violations of Chinese rights and interests, the Chinese side will resolutely counter, follow the end."The U.S. side released the softening signal, tried to delay or modify the tariff measures at the end, but we still promote counter measures in accordance with the established timetable, which also further demonstrates that China has established a set of accurate, equal and predictable counter measures.