Timothy A. Clary—AFP
China’s foreign minister at the U.N. warns of the perils of undermining multilateral trading regime
China’s foreign minister warned on Friday that protectionism could trigger a world recession as he vowed to stand firm in a trade row with the United States.
“The lessons of the Great Depression should not be forgotten,” Wang Yi told the United Nations General Assembly in New York. “Tariffs and provocation of trade disputes, which upset global industrial and supply chains, serve to undermine the multilateral trading regime and global economic and trade order,” he said. “They may even plunge the world into recession,” the foreign minister added.
His comments come amid an intense showdown with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has slapped tariffs on the world’s second largest economy over what he calls unfair practices and intellectual property theft.
Multiple media accounts on Friday said that the row could again escalate sharply with Trump considering drastic measures such as delisting Chinese companies on U.S. stock markets or trying to block U.S. investment in China.
Wang made clear that China would retaliate for any further measures. “China is committed to resolve [disputes] in a calm, rational and cooperative manner and is willing to demonstrate utmost patience and goodwill,” Wang said. “Should the other side act in bad faith, or show no respect for equal status or rules in negotiations, we will have to make necessary responses to safeguard our legitimate rights and interests and to uphold International justice,” he said.
Representing China on the international stage, Wang vowed firmness. “Let me make it very clear: China is a country with a 5,000-year civilization, 1.4 billion hardworking and courageous people, and a vast land of 9.6 million square kilometers. China will not ever be [cowed] by threats, or subdued by pressure,” he said.
He made little direct reference to the United States but suggested that Trump was driven by domestic politics. “Erecting walls will not resolve global challenges, and blaming others for one’s own problems does not work,” he said.