NPC spokesperson Lou denounced Washington’s decision to impose unilateral tariffs as a violation of international trade rules, after a reporter from US news outlet NBC News asked if tariffs would be a key issue at this year’s Two Sessions.
“The unilateral imposition of tariffs by the United States violates the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and interferes with the security and stability of the global industrial chain and supply chain,” Lou said.
Lou called for a balanced approach, and voiced hopes that “the United States and China will meet each other halfway and find a solution to the problem through equal consultation.”
As global trade tensions and shifting geopolitical dynamics continue to test international relationships, Lou underscored Beijing’s commitment to multilateral cooperation and a rules-based global trading system.
“China is also willing to strengthen cooperation with all countries in the world to jointly safeguard the hard-won multilateral trading system, oppose unilateralism and protectionism, and work together to promote inclusive economic globalisation,” he said.
DEALING WITH ECONOMIC PRESSURES
Against this backdrop, China’s legislature acknowledged on Tuesday that external pressures have negatively impacted the country’s economy, which is already contending with domestic challenges.
“Internationally, rising economic and political uncertainties make it harder to stabilise external demand,” noted Lou, the NPC spokesperson.
He added that “domestically, demand is insufficient, and some enterprises are experiencing operational difficulties.”
Yet, even as these challenges persist, Lou underscored the resilience of China’s economic foundations.
“We must also see that China’s economic foundation is stable, has many advantages, strong resilience, and great potential, and the long-term support conditions and basic trends have not changed,” he asserted, singling out the country’s “super-large market” and “complete industrial system” as examples.
Lou highlighted the raft of measures announced in September last year as among the steps taken to bolster the Chinese economy. He also brought up the national push to harness “new productive forces”, or “xin zhi sheng chan li” in Mandarin.
“China’s economy has always grown through ups and downs and grown stronger through trials. We are confident in the prospects of China’s economy,” Lou said.
China is expected to lay out its economic priorities and pledges for the year on Wednesday, when Premier Li Qiang delivers the government work report at the NPC opening. These include targets for key indicators such as GDP growth and fiscal deficit.
Analysts have told CNA they expect Chinese policymakers to unveil new measures centred on a more aggressive, household-focused fiscal approach, as authorities increasingly look to spending from their own citizens to uplift the economy.
