CHINA accused the United States today of unilateralism, protectionism and economic bullying with tariffs, while calling on representatives of US companies, including Elon Musk’s Tesla, to “take concrete actions” to resolve the tariffs.

Putting “America First” over international rules harms the stability of global production and the supply chain and seriously hinders the world’s economic recovery, foreign affairs spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters.

Last week, President Trump put an additional 34 per cent tariff on Chinese goods as part of “Liberation Day,” coming on top of two rounds of 10 per cent tariffs already declared in February and March, which Trump said was due to Beijing’s role in the fentanyl crisis. 

China hit back with its own 34 per cent tariff rate on US goods, mirroring the tariff rate for China.

The People’s Daily newspaper said today: “The sky won't fall.

“Faced with indiscriminate US taxes, we know what we are doing and we have tools at our disposal.”

Beijing had announced a range of countermeasures on Friday. As part of these measures, China suspended sorghum, poultry and bonemeal imports from some US companies, and put more export controls on rare earth minerals, critical for various technologies, while launching a lawsuit at the World Trade Organisation.

“Pressure and threats are not the way to deal with China. China will firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests,” Mr Lin added.

But over the weekend, Chinese government officials met a number of US business representatives — including from Tesla and GE Healthcare.

“The root of the tariff problem is in the US,” said Ling Ji, a vice-minister of commerce, at the meeting with the 20 US companies, according to a readout of the meeting. 

“We hope the American companies can address the problem at its root, issue reasonable statements, take concrete actions, and work together to safeguard the stability of the global supply chain.”