China's Ministry of Commerce stated on Tuesday that the instrument being promoted by some European Union (EU) member states is a typical example of protectionism and unilateral actions. According to the Chinese side, such steps could disrupt trade between China and the EU, as well as undermine the stability of global industries and supply chains.
A representative of China's Ministry of Commerce made these statements in response to media inquiries regarding reports that some EU countries are preparing a joint document. This document calls on the European Commission to accelerate the development of the so-called European '301' instrument and adopt tougher measures against China.
The representative emphasized that the instrument mentioned in the reports will not solve any problems and may even lead to adverse results, noting that the EU itself has previously been a victim of similar measures.
Since the EU is an important member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and has long positioned itself as a defender of multilateralism, the representative warned that if the EU does not set an example and begins to violate WTO rules, it will seriously undermine the rules-based multilateral trading system.
According to the representative, China and the EU are currently engaged in dialogue within their trade and investment consultation mechanism, exploring ways to resolve mutual issues. However, the representative noted that if the EU simultaneously increases pressure on China while engaging in dialogue, it will seriously damage mutual trust, disrupt the overall consultation process, and affect broader economic and trade cooperation between China and the EU.
China called on the EU to continue managing disagreements through dialogue. The representative added that China is closely monitoring the EU's further actions, and if the EU insists on introducing discriminatory restrictive measures targeting Chinese companies or products, China will respond decisively to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese industry.