China’s Ministry of Commerce has called on the United States to withdraw its investigation into copper imports, labeling the U.S. accusations as “entirely unfounded.” The U.S. recently initiated a Section 232 probe, alleging that China uses subsidies and excess capacity to undermine competition.
Ministry spokesperson He Yadong addressed the issue during a press conference on Thursday. “The U.S. investigation is a unilateral and protectionist act carried out under the pretext of ‘national security’,” He stated. “Such actions undermine the rules-based multilateral trading system and disrupt the stability of global production and supply chains.”
He highlighted that the World Trade Organization ruled in 2022 that U.S. Section 232 tariff measures violate international trade rules. “Notably, China is a net importer of refined copper and exports only a small amount of copper products,” He added.
If the U.S. proceeds with additional tariffs or restrictive measures, China has vowed to take necessary actions to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests. Despite the tensions, He emphasized that China remains willing to resolve the issue through dialogue and consultation but stands firmly against unilateral tariff measures.
