China has urged the United States to refrain from politicizing and weaponizing economic and trade matters, as Washington seeks to restrict Chinese investments abroad in accordance with President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda.
The actions taken by the American government, which intensify scrutiny of business relationships with China on security grounds, are expected to significantly erode the confidence of Chinese firms investing in the United States, as stated by the Ministry of Commerce on Saturday.
These remarks from the ministry came in response to the announcement of the America First Investment Policy, which identified China as one of the “adversaries” that systematically direct and facilitate investments in American companies and assets to acquire advanced technologies, intellectual property, and influence in key industries.
While President Trump previously suggested the potential for an agreement to mitigate the escalation of a trade conflict with China, Beijing’s substantial $295 billion trade surplus with the United States remains a significant concern for the new administration. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent referred to China as the most “unbalanced economy in the history of the world” during an interview with Bloomberg TV.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Commerce Ministry indicated that China will closely observe the actions of the United States and will implement necessary measures to protect its legitimate rights and interests.
In response to U.S. tariffs, Beijing has enacted countermeasures, including limited tariffs on American goods, and this week characterized Washington’s assertions that China has not curtailed the trade in fentanyl as a “pretext” for imposing these charges.
On Sunday, the Commerce Ministry issued a separate statement indicating that the United States’ proposed restrictive measures targeting China’s maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors are detrimental not only to China but also to other nations. Beijing called on Washington to acknowledge the facts and adhere to multilateral regulations, urging it to cease its inappropriate actions.
