Ministry of Commerce Spokesperson Answers Questions from Journalists Regarding the U.S. Trade Representative's Office Announcement of Initiating Section 301 Investigations Against 60 Economies, Including China, on the Grounds of "Failure to Prohibit Importation of Products Made with Forced Labor"

CNBC Finance APP has learned that the Ministry of Commerce’s spokesperson responded to reporters’ questions regarding the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office’s announcement of initiating a Section 301 investigation against 60 economies, including China, on the grounds of “not banning the import of forced labor products.” Currently, China and the U.S. are holding a new round of economic and trade consultations in Paris, France, and China has lodged a protest with the U.S. side. We urge the U.S. to immediately correct its wrongful actions, work with China, adhere to the principles of mutual respect and equal consultation, and seek solutions through dialogue and negotiation. We will closely monitor the progress of the U.S. investigation and reserve the right to take all necessary measures to firmly defend our legitimate rights and interests.

The original text is as follows:

Q: On March 12th, Eastern Time, the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office announced the initiation of a Section 301 investigation against 60 economies, including China, on the grounds of “not banning the import of forced labor products.” What is China’s comment on this?

A: China notes that on March 12th, Eastern Time, the U.S. initiated a Section 301 investigation against 60 economies, including China, citing “not banning the import of forced labor products.” This is another Section 301 investigation launched by the U.S. following the one on “overcapacity” on March 11th.

The U.S. previously fabricated facts and imposed a series of trade restrictions on China under the pretext of “forced labor.” China has repeatedly expressed its firm stance. China has always opposed forced labor, is one of the founding members of the International Labour Organization, has ratified 28 international labor conventions, and has established a comprehensive system of labor laws and regulations to prevent and combat forced labor.

To date, the U.S. has not ratified the 1930 Forced Labour Convention and refuses to be bound by international rules, yet it has long manipulated the issue of “forced labor.” The U.S. initiated a Section 301 investigation against China and related economies in an attempt to build trade barriers, which is highly unilateral, arbitrary, and discriminatory, representing typical protectionist behavior. The WTO expert panel has already ruled that U.S. tariffs under Section 301 against China violate WTO rules. The U.S. has once again abused the Section 301 investigation process, placing domestic law above international rules, which is a mistake that severely damages the security and stability of the global industrial and supply chains and disrupts international economic and trade order.

Currently, China and the U.S. are holding a new round of economic and trade consultations in Paris, France, and China has lodged a protest with the U.S. side. We urge the U.S. to immediately correct its wrongful actions, work with China, adhere to the principles of mutual respect and equal consultation, and seek solutions through dialogue and negotiation. We will closely monitor the progress of the U.S. investigation and reserve the right to take all necessary measures to firmly defend our legitimate rights and interests.

This article is compiled by the Ministry of Commerce, edited by CNBC Finance: Li Fo.