“Some countries are building a small yard with high fences, erecting tariff barriers, politicizing business issues, using them as tools and weapons,” Xi said at the Great Hall of the People, without naming any nation. “I hope you will share your sensible views and take actions to push back against the retrogressive rules and the zero-sum games,” he said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called on global business leaders to push back against protectionism, seeking to take advantage of growing backlash to rising US tariffs to promote his country as a reliable partner.
Xi on Friday made a veiled critique of Donald Trump’s trade actions, touting China’s stability at a meeting in Beijing with some 40 corporate leaders including Stephen A. Schwarzman of Blackstone, Judy Marks of Otis Worldwide Corp and Jay Y. Lee of Samsung Electronics. His comments came a day after the American president intensified his trade war and prompted threats of retaliation from the EU and other allies.
