China called on the United States on Sunday to “completely eliminate” mutual tariffs, following President Donald Trump’s decision to exempt high-tech goods from them.
“We urge the US to take a major step to correct its mistakes, completely abolish the wrong practice of imposing tit-for-tat tariffs, and return to the right track of mutual respect,” a Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesperson said in a statement.
Amid a trade war with China that has caused confusion in financial markets, the United States reversed its stance last Friday, deciding to exempt smartphones and computers from additional tariffs imposed by Donald Trump.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce described the measure on Sunday as a “small step,” noting that it was “evaluating its impact.”
The exemptions, published late Friday in a notice from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, cover various electronic goods, including smartphones and components entering the United States from China, which are currently subject to an additional 145% tariff.
This decision is particularly beneficial for tech giants like Apple, which manufactures the iPhone and other flagship products in China.
Beijing responded to Trump on Friday by increasing tariffs on all US products to 125%, effective Saturday.
