On May 9, 2019 the US government announced to increase tariffs on 200 billion dollars worth of Chinese goods from 10 percent to 25 percent as of May 10. The measure taken by the United States escalated trade frictions and violated the consensuses reached by both sides to tackle trade disputes through consultations. The US move damaged the interests of the two sides and did not meet universal expectation of the international community. To defend multilateral trade mechanisms and safeguard its own rights and interests, China had to adjust its additional tariffs on some of the goods imported from the United States. 

According to the Basic Principles of International Laws, the Foreign Trade Law of PRC, Regulations of the PRC on Import and Export Duties and other laws and regulations, after the approval of the State Council, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council announced that it will raise the rate of additional tariffs imposed on some of the imported US products from 0:00 a.m. June 1, 2019. China had earlier imposed additional tariffs on 60 billion dollars worth of US imports, the rates of additional tariffs on some of the products will now be increased to 25 percent, 20 percent, and 10 percent. And 5% additional tariffs continue on previous items.

China’s additional tariffs adjustment is a response to the US act of unilateralism and trade protectionism. China hopes that the United States would return to the right track of bilateral economic and trade consultations, make joint efforts with China to meet each other halfway and strive to reach a mutually beneficial and win-win agreement on the basis of mutual respect.