China Reaffirms Commitment to Openness Amidst US Trade Tensions

On April 6, 2025, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) in Beijing hosted a roundtable meeting for US-funded enterprises. The meeting was led by Ling Ji, China's vice commerce minister and deputy China international trade representative.

Ling Ji emphasized China's commitment to reform and opening up, despite global uncertainties. The meeting took place after China announced countermeasures against the US's "reciprocal tariffs" on its trading partners, including China. These countermeasures included additional tariffs on US imports and a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization.

The meeting saw participation from over 20 American companies, including Tesla, GE Healthcare, and Medtronic. Ling Ji stated that the US tariffs were damaging to the multilateral trade system and infringing on the rights of various countries. He stressed that China's countermeasures aimed to protect the legal rights of enterprises and encourage the US to return to multilateral trade.

Ling Ji noted that the root of the tariff issue lay with the US. He hoped that US-funded enterprises would understand the situation, speak rationally, and take action to maintain the global supply chain and promote cooperation. Representatives from the US companies expressed that the meeting conveyed a positive signal and demonstrated the Chinese government's commitment to its policies.

The US business representatives also raised issues regarding their current investments and operations, which were addressed by officials from the MOFCOM. Ling Ji reiterated that China's doors would continue to open wider, and policies regarding foreign investment would remain unchanged. MOFCOM would continue to protect the rights of foreign enterprises and actively address their concerns.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian also highlighted China's commitment to further opening up. He stated that open cooperation represents the trend of history and mutual benefit is what the people want. Development is a universal right of all countries.

Experts noted that China's policy is relatively predictable and stable, offering American companies a positive outlook for investment. The Chinese government's position opposes the US's use of tariffs and will continue to open up to the world. China aims to share its development opportunities and achieve mutual benefits.

American businesses are investing in the Chinese market due to its predictability and potential. Apple CEO Tim Cook attended the China Development Forum 2025 and stated that Apple would continue to expand its investments in China. Tesla launched a new financing package, highlighting the growing synergy between the Chinese and US auto industries. In the first two months of 2025, the number of new foreign-invested enterprises increased.