China’s premier appeals for free trade amid tariff battle
BEIJING — China’s No. 2 leader appealed Wednesday for support for free trade and promised to improve conditions for foreign companies following tit-for-tat U.S. and Chinese tariff hikes in a battle over Beijing’s technology policy.
Premier Li Keqiang’s comments add to Beijing’s effort to portray itself as a defender of global trade in the face of complaints by Washington and other trading partners that China violates its market-opening commitments.
Also Wednesday, a foreign ministry spokesman accused Washington of lacking sincerity after it proposed negotiations and then raised tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods. But he gave no indication whether Beijing would take part in talks.
China responded to President Donald Trump’s tariff hike by imposing its own penalties Tuesday on $60 billion of American imports.