British economists and scholars said the latest protectionist tariffs introduced by Donald Trump’s administration against exports from China, the European Union, Mexico, and Canada, significantly harm global trade.
“With regret from many (countries) around the world, the US has departed from the principle of free trade and has embarked on full-blown trade wars,” said Christopher Bovis, a professor of international business law at the University of Hull. “The US actions threaten to unseat global supply chain arrangements and destroy existing trade partnerships that have promoted economic growth and employment in many parts of the world.”
On July 6, US tariffs on $34 billion of Chinese goods, including medical devices and airplane parts, took effect. Beijing responded with tariffs of a similar value on US exports of products including soybeans, pork, and automobiles.
Trump is citing national security concerns, theft of intellectual property, and unfair trade practices as reasons for his taxes on Chinese products but analysts say the trade imbalance between China and the US, and Trump’s efforts to win in the upcoming US midterm elections are likely the real reasons.
Earlier this year, Chinese policymakers announced numerous measures to further open China’s domestic market to foreign access. China has also pledged to strengthen its laws around intellectual property protection.

Source：China daily