Chinese and American flags were seen waving near The Bund, ahead of a crucial meeting between trade delegations from both countries in Shanghai, China in July 2019.

China has recently hardened its stance following the initial round of trade tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson, He Yongqian, in a recent press briefing, stated that China will undoubtedly implement necessary measures to resolutely defend its own rights and interests in the face of unilateral acts of bullying. This was translated from her original statement by CNBC.

Yongqian also clarified that China has no intention to instigate any trade disputes and is always ready for resolving issues via dialogue. This aligns with Beijing’s previous official statements that emphasized their readiness to negotiate.

Echoing these sentiments, Lin Jian, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also expressed similar views recently. Jian firmly criticized and opposed the U.S.’s decision to impose an additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports, citing the fentanyl issue. He pointed out that the measures taken by China are necessary for protecting their legitimate rights and interests. The official English translation of his statement was provided.

CNBC has sought comments from the U.S. State Department on the matter.

These official statements came in the wake of the U.S. imposing 10% tariffs on Chinese goods, which led to China retaliating by imposing its own tariffs of up to 15% on U.S. liquefied natural gas and selected products. This came into effect on February 10.

The U.S. also discontinued a de minimis exemption, making it costlier for Chinese e-commerce sellers to ship products directly to U.S. customers.

He Yongqian, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, has urged the U.S. to establish a “fair and predictable” environment for cross-border e-commerce.