As Mexico and Canada hit back, China draws punches on Trump’s tariff. Donald Trump News

Taipei, Taiwan – The United States President Donald Trump, while announcing tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico over the weekend, his Canadian and Mexican counterparts made a comeback with their own levy on American goods.

China, Washington’s largest strategic rival’s reaction, was particularly more restrained.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce on Sunday did not announce a specific tariff in its response, just saying that it will “take protest” to protect its rights and interests strongly.

The ministry also stated that it would challenge tariffs in the World Trade Organization, a large-scale symbolic measure as its appellate bodies are non-Kakshkaji since the end of 2019, refusing to support Washington’s appointment of new judges.

Beijing has a relatively silent response as the US-China relationship has shut down for a surprisingly favorable start under Trump’s second administration.

Asked about his first call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the Davos Economic Forum on 23 January, Trump said that the countries believe that the countries would be “very well”.

In an interview by Fox News, a broadcast on the same day, Trump said he would not implement tariffs on China and express his interest in reaching a deal with Xi.

It is “very admirable” that Trump and Xi have seen an opportunity for a deal, Julian Chassey said, “Experts of International Economic Law at City University in Hong Kong.”

“They are not necessarily aligning their broad objectives, but because both work in a world where political and economic benefits are constantly reorganized, where tariffs are as much about signaling power as they transfer business balance Are about- and where broad geopolitical climate is often low- term Economic Moves will suggest more than any traditional trade logic, ”Chassey told Al Jazira.

“It is especially relevant that China has always responded to the US tariff with accuracy with accuracy historically, avoiding growth when possible, while ensuring that it does not appear weak.”

While Trump’s Canadian and Mexican items are accused of 25 percent tariffs for trade between the three countries – which has been working under a free trade agreement since NAFTA’s signature in 1994 – China has Levy. Are struggling with Its exports since its first term in the office.

Trump’s 10 percent tariff announcement also decreased by 60 percent of the tariff, threatening to impose on Chinese goods during his election campaign.

Added to the current tariff, the new measures, according to Debora Elms, the head of the trade policy at the Hinrich Foundation in Singapore, bring the average tariff on Chinese goods by about 20 percent to 30 percent.

Elms said Beijing’s decision to visit the WTO allowed it to create a dispute about the “principles” of global trade.

Elms told Al Jazeera, “It was challenging for China to join the WTO, as it included hosting economic reforms and significant cuts in tariff rates.”

“But China put the matter at a domestic level that it was meaningful as the benefits of being part of the global trade system were sufficient. I think this is why China is now turning to the World Trade Organization as a part of its strategy to counter Trump. ,

Steve Okun, founder and CEO of APAC advisors in Singapore, said that Beijing can also give his time before rolling other measures.

“This is an opening Salvo,” Okun told Al Jazeera.

“This is not being done to influence our behavior. The Chinese had to do something. If they do so, they can show both the domestic audience and their global audience in China ‘We are following the rules, not America.’ This gives them time to find out what to do next. ,

China’s Embassy in Washington, DC did not respond to the immediate remarks request.

Despite a slow economy, Beijing is in a strong position to interact with the US compared to Canada or Mexico.

China’s GDP (GDP) is around $ 19 trillion, while the US is about 30 trillion compared to GDP. The GDPs of Canada and Mexico are small in $ 2.1 trillion and $ 1.8 trillion respectively.

Peterson Institute for Economic Affairs has estimated that tariffs on Mexico and Canada can erase more than $ 200bn from the US economy in the next four years, Canada’s very small economy can reduce $ 100bn from a very small economy, and reduce the economy of Mexico by 2 percent. Are.

According to the analysis of the institute, tariffs on Chinese goods can shrink another $ 55bn and Chinese economy separately from $ 128bn.

Carrsten Holz, a professor at an economics professor at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, said Chinese policy makers have concluded that tariffs would cause more damage to America than China that American is facing high inflation and Trump probably has his right to his rights Is finished measures.

Holz told Al Jazeera, “There is no crowd to ease itself for an economic superpower.” “If Trump enhances his war on PRC, significant counterfeit measures can still be taken.”

On Monday, the Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous sources, stated that Beijing planned to propose a revival of a business deal sealed in 2020 during Trump’s first term.

Under the terms of the deal, China agreed to buy US goods of $ 200bn in two years.

According to Peterson Institute for Economic Affairs, Covid-19 epidemic and China met only 58 percent of the obligations, the agreement was interrupted.

Chice said that a similar deal could be the ultimate goal for the US and China.

He said, “Low tariff rate on China on imports from Canada and Mexico gives a strategic suggestion rather than a purely economic calculation,” he said.