China launches two probes into US trade practices

China’s commerce ministry has initiated two counter-probes into US ‌practices that hamper the flow of Chinese products into the United States, it said on Friday, refraining from immediate retaliation to US measures announced earlier this month.

A trade truce between China and ​the US has held since US President Donald Trump met Chinese President ​Xi Jinping in October last year. Trump said earlier this week that he will visit Beijing in mid-May, as part of Washington’s broader effort to ​reset relations in the Asia-Pacific region.

The two Chinese investigations - scheduled to conclude within six ​months, though they could be extended - are in response to two US Section 301 investigations against China, the ministry said in a statement, describing them as reciprocal.

CHINA TO INVESTIGATE SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTION

The investigations ​will look into US trade practices and measures that “disrupt global supply and industrial ​chains” and “hinder trade in green products”, the ministry said in separate statements.

These practices and measures restrict ‌or prohibit both the entry of Chinese products to the US and US exports of high-tech products to China, it said.

The US also implemented measures that limit the exports of green products from the US and slow down the deployment of new energy ​projects, which might harm ​Chinese companies’ interests, the ministry said.

Based on the findings of the investigations, China will take corresponding measures to defend its rights and interests, it ​said.