China vows response if EU introduces moves targeting Chinese trade

BEIJING, Sept 30 (Reuters) - ‌China has vowed ​a "resolute ​response" to safeguard its industries if the European Union goes ahead with restrictions against Chinese ‌companies or products, according to its commerce ministry.

The ⁠ministry was referring to a reported joint document drafted by ‌some EU member states pushing ‌for a tool to tackle unfair trade and take more forceful measures against China.

The tool amounts to ​a "typical protectionist and unilateralist measure", and will disrupt stability of China-EU trade, the ministry said in a ⁠statement late on Tuesday.

"If the European side engages in talks and consultations ​with China, while increasingly pressuring China, it will seriously undermine mutual trust, interfere with the ​overall process of consultation," the ministry ‌cautioned.

China could respond with a "strong policy toolbox" that includes anti-discrimination probes, security investigations into ⁠industrial and supply chains and could also look into the impact of foreign subsidies, state-backed newspaper Global Times reported on ⁠Wednesday, citing an unnamed Chinese observer as saying.

Global Times linked the ​warning to an article by Rhodium Group's senior adviser on Europe-China ties, Noah Barkin, who said Germany and France were finalising a ‌joint paper this week to call on the European Commission to fast-track development of ‌an instrument that mirrors the United States' Section 301 ⁠unfair trade practices provision, ‌to deter China in ​the EU market.

(Reporting by Liz Lee and Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Sonali ‌Paul)

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