The European Union Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, has called on China to engage in a “negotiated solution” after Beijing accused the US president of “blackmail” over tariffs, The Telegraph reported.
During a phone call with China’s Premier, Li Qiang on Tuesday, von der Leyen “Called for a negotiated resolution to the current situation, emphasising the need to avoid further escalation.”
She “Stressed the responsibility of Europe and China, as two of the world’s largest markets, to support a strong reformed trading system, free, fair and founded on a level playing field.”
Both leaders discussed setting up a mechanism to track possible trade diversion caused by the tariffs, Ms von der Leyen’s office said.
The EU is particularly concerned that China could redirect low-cost exports, originally intended for the United States, to European markets.
The call follows increasing tensions over trade between the US and China. Trump has threatened to impose an additional 50 percent tariff on Chinese goods, while China has retaliated with a 34 percent tariff on US imports.
In response, China has vowed not to yield to these threats.
A spokesman for China’s commerce ministry said, “The US side’s threat to escalate tariffs against China is a mistake on top of a mistake, once again exposing the American side’s blackmailing nature.
“If the US insists on going its own way, China will fight to the end,” The Telegraph reported.
