Summary of Key Points
The press conference held by the Ministry of Commerce on August 20 focused on three main issues: the United States' imposition of additional "Section 232 tariffs" on Chinese drones (which China criticized as protectionism under the guise of national security); a report by the US regarding "transshipment scams" (which China described as a deliberate attempt to shift blame); and the EU's investigation of JD.com using its Foreign Subsidies Regulations (FSR) (which China deemed an improper form of extraterritorial jurisdiction and issued a ban on enforcement). China firmly opposes unilateralism and protectionism, demanding that the US and EU correct their mistakes. At the same time, China is taking legal action to protect the rights and interests of its enterprises and is open to resolving disputes through dialogue.
Detailed Analysis
1. US Tariffs on Chinese Drones: Protectionism under the Mask of National Security
The US has imposed additional "Section 232 tariffs" on Chinese drones and their components, citing national security as the reason. However, this is a clear case of protectionism. China argues that most of the drones exported to the US are for civilian use—such as spraying pesticides on farmland, inspecting power grids, or for cinematography—and have no military application. The US has misused the concept of national security and applied discriminatory tariffs, which not only harms Chinese companies but also disrupts the global drone supply chain (for example, enterprises that transport components from China for assembly in the US are affected). China has demanded that the US immediately revoke these tariffs.
2. Chinese Countermeasures: Strengthening Drone Export Controls to Maintain Security
In response to the US tariffs, China issued a notice on August 5 stating that it will conduct strict reviews of all drone-related "dual-use items" exported from the US (items that can be used for both civilian and military purposes, such as certain key components and technologies). These items will not be exempted from review and must comply with Chinese laws to prevent their misuse and to fulfill China's international non-proliferation obligations.
3. US "Transshipment Scam" Report: A Common Trick to Shift Blame
The White House recently released a report claiming that China avoids tariffs by transshipping goods through third countries (e.g., to Southeast Asia before being shipped to the US), listing more than 40 countries as potentially involved in this practice. China refuted this, stating that this is a complete distortion of facts. Normal international trade is being labeled as a "scam," when in reality, it is due to the excessively high tariffs imposed by the US, forcing companies to seek cost-cutting measures. The root of the problem lies with the US itself. China calls on the US to stop making these irresponsible accusations.
4. EU's FSR Investigation of JD.com: Excessive Use of Regulations
The EU used its Foreign Subsidies Regulations to investigate JD.com and requested a large amount of information from Chinese banks that was unrelated to the investigation, effectively extending its jurisdiction into China. The Chinese Ministry of Justice deemed this an "improper form of extraterritorial jurisdiction" and issued a ban on enforcement, stating that no Chinese organizations or individuals may assist the EU in carrying out this investigation. This is similar to China's previous response in the case of Hikvision; it serves as a clear message to the EU not to overstep its authority.
5. China's Approach: A Combination of Dialogue and Legal Action
China's stance is clear: it opposes the use of unilateral measures (such as Section 232 tariffs and FSR) by the US and EU to suppress Chinese companies. At the same time, it is willing to resolve issues through dialogue (for example, through China-EU trade and investment negotiation mechanisms). However, if the other parties do not change their behavior, China will resort to legal means (such as its Anti-Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Regulations) to protect its interests. In short, China prefers dialogue but is prepared to take strong action when necessary to ensure that its companies are not unfairly treated.
Overall, China's response is both rational and resolute, aimed at protecting its own interests and the stability of the global supply chain, while opposing any form of unilateral bullying. It is evident that the actions of the US and EU are unreasonable, and China's approach is well-founded and measured.