China on Tuesday urged the United States to face the reality and stop being opinionated, responding to a joint statement released by U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and the Treasury Department.
The statement said the United States was disappointed at the white paper and again accused China of "backtracking" in bilateral economic and trade consultations.
"The statement is talking black into white and resorting to lame arguments," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a press briefing.
The white paper, "China's Position on the China-U.S. Economic and Trade Consultations," has completely and accurately restored the process of the consultations and stated the facts and truths, Geng said.
Citing the white paper, Geng said each and every setback during the consultations has been the result of a U.S. breach of consensus and commitments, and backtracking.
U.S. statement also accused of China of being engaged in "unfair trade practices." Geng said the white paper issued by China on Sept. 24 last year, titled "The Facts and China's Position on China-U.S. Trade Friction," had responded to and refuted false accusations against China by the United States on trade deficit, intellectual property, technology transfer and other issues.
"I advise the U.S. side to carefully read the two white papers issued by China and stop being self-righteous and talking to itself," he said.
"The tariff measures will not make the U.S. great again. Instead, they will bring serious harm to the U.S. economy," Geng said.
Geng said it was right to resolve trade friction through dialogue and negotiation, adding reaching a mutually beneficial and win-win agreement based on mutual respect, equality, good faith and credibility would not only benefit the two sides, but also meet the general expectation of the international community.
China is determined and capable of defending its legitimate rights and interests, Geng said, urging the U.S. side to grasp the situation as soon as possible, return to the right track and meet China half way.
