China expresses concern over U.S. investigation on aluminium imports on national security ground

Washington has recently started a probe into aluminium imports from the world's top producer of the metal on national security grounds and the US Department of Commerce held a public hearing on June 22 on the Section 232 Investigation into the impact of aluminium imports on US national security.  The country is also conducting a separate investigation into steel. The rarely used section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 allows restrictions on imports for reasons of national security. China's Commerce Ministry has expressed their concern over this development during the 100-day trade talk period.

The “100-day trade talks” was the result of a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Mar-a-Lago, Florida in April, which proved far more cordial than had been expected considering last year's U.S. presidential campaign. A 100-day plan was designed to address trade imbalances between China and the US over a series of discussions among the representatives of two countries.  While the 100-day trade talks continue between two economies, there have been a number of developments that have created concern in China.

"The scale of 'national security' is very wide and lacking clear definition, which is easily misused and therefore posing restrictions on normal flow of international trade," Sun Jiwen, spokesman at China's Commerce Ministry, said expressing his worries over the issue.

{googleAdsense}

According to a senior official from the ministry U.S. President Donald Trump is frustrated over China’s inaction towards North Korea and bilateral trade issues which might lead to possible trade actions against the country.

Sun also said that trade co-operation between China and the U.S. is usually smooth and achieved positive results in the past.  He hoped both the countries would make an effort towards a cordial trade relationship.