Beijing: China on Sunday called on the United States to completely cancel its reciprocal tariffs, following Washington’s recent decision to grant exemptions for consumer electronics and essential chipmaking equipment.

“We urge the US to... take a big step to correct its mistakes, completely cancel the wrong practice of 'reciprocal tariffs' and return to the right path of mutual respect,” a spokesperson from China’s commerce ministry said in a statement.

US and China locked in tariff dispute

The world's two largest economies have been engaged in a retaliatory tariff war since US President Donald Trump announced sweeping global tariffs this month. These duties, which now include a 145 percent blanket levy on Chinese goods, have escalated tensions significantly.

In response, China enforced import tariffs of 125 percent on US products starting Saturday, standing firm against its major trade partner.

Partial relief from Washington

Following a sharp reaction in global markets, President Trump introduced a 90-day delay on most of the new tariffs for several countries—excluding China. However, the US Customs and Border Protection agency on Friday eased some pressure by exempting smartphones, laptops, memory chips, and other electronics from the duties.

Beijing calls it a "small step"

China's commerce ministry acknowledged the exemptions as a “small step” and said it was currently “evaluating the impact” of the move.

These exemptions are expected to benefit major American technology companies such as Apple, Nvidia, and Dell, all of which rely on Chinese manufacturing. According to senior RAND researcher Gerard DiPippo, the excluded items make up over 20 percent of US imports from China.

Semiconductors could face future tariffs

Despite the current relief, semiconductors might still be subjected to new, industry-specific tariffs. President Trump said on Saturday that he would give a “very specific” response regarding any such levies on Monday.

China positions itself as a stable partner

As the US faces criticism over its erratic tariff strategies, China is presenting itself as a steady trade partner. The Chinese commerce ministry said the US tariffs have “not only failed to solve any of the United States’ own problems but have seriously undermined the global economic and trade order.”

Earlier, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao warned that these tariffs could “inflict serious harm” on developing nations, during a call with the World Trade Organization head.

Xi Jinping to begin southeast Asia tour

Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to begin a five-day visit to Southeast Asia on Monday, where he will hold discussions with the leaders of Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia. The visit comes after Xi recently said that China and Europe should “jointly resist unilateral bullying practices,” during talks with the Spanish Prime Minister.

Despite the escalating tensions, Beijing has maintained that it remains open to dialogue with Washington. Meanwhile, the White House has said President Trump is still “optimistic” about securing a trade deal, although it expects China to make the first move.

AP