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The Ministry of Commerce of China File photo: VCG

Relevant authorities from China and the US have been maintaining communication on trade issues, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) spokesperson He Yongqian said on Thursday.

He made the remarks at a press conference when being asked whether China and the US have set a meeting date to address trade issues as China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said that China is willing to communicate more with the US on trade issues at the just concluded two sessions. 

China has always maintained that differences and disputes in the economic and trade spheres should be addressed through positive cooperation, equal dialogue and strengthened communication to achieve mutually acceptable solutions, He said.

He stressed that any form of communication and consultation must be based on mutual respect and equality for mutual benefit. Threats or coercion will only prove counterproductive. "We hope the US will work with China, guided by the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, to return to the right track of resolving issues through dialogue and consultation," He said. 

When asked about the current tariff rates on Chinese steel and aluminum exports to the US, He said whether it is the 301 tariffs or the 232 tariffs, they have already been ruled by the World Trade Organization dispute settlement mechanism to violate multilateral trade rules. 

The accumulation of US tariffs on Chinese products does not contribute to so-called "national security," nor does it assist US domestic industries, but merely highlights the unilateralism, protectionism, and bullying practices of the US, He said. 

China has always maintained its clear stance on addressing issues and disputes through dialogue, hoping to find win-win solutions, Li Yong, a senior research fellow at the China Association of International Trade, told the Global Times on Thursday. 

Li noted that the trade measures taken by the US will just harm the trade relationship with China, while they can't sort out the challenges faced by the US.

On Wednesday, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that China believes that the right way is to address each other's concerns through dialogue and consultation on the basis of equality and mutual respect, when responding to a question from the New York Times asking "does China feel that it has had adequate communication with the Trump administration, particularly on trade and other economic issues?"

Mao said that China-US trade ties are based on reciprocal interactions. Cooperation will bring about mutual benefits and win-win outcomes, and China will definitely take countermeasures in response to arbitrary pressure. 

The relatively high degree of attention regarding economic and trade communication between the two countries reflected hope for China-US relations to inject some confidence and enhance stability into global trade amid the current uncertainties, Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times on Thursday, adding that the future development direction of China-US trade relations will have a significant impact on global trade.

Li said that China and the US have much cooperation potential and many opportunities, which may help the US tackle its economic difficulties. 

If China and the US can reach a consensus on key issues, it would not only benefit both nations but also play a vital role in addressing global challenges, as the world's two largest economies have the capability to advance cooperation, take responsibility as major powers, and create more opportunities for their trade partners worldwide, Zhou said.