The Chinese Commerce Ministry (MOFCOM) published Friday a statement in which a spokesperson warned that if the import restrictions imposed by the European Union could cause a "trade war," it would be the sole responsibility of the European side.
The spokesperson noted that it is in China's interest that the EU "can match its words with its deeds," both sides to "meet each other halfway," and the dialogue channels remain open to solve differences to "avoid trade frictions from escalating out of control."
The ministry stressed that it has seen the EU's "intensive introduction" of 31 trade and investment restrictions on China, as a "seriously disrupting" sign that affects bilateral economic and trade cooperation. The EU's "typical protectionism approach" was criticized in the document.
