Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang's Regular Press Conference on August 1, 2018

　问：有报道说，美方计划于今天晚些时候宣布对价值2000亿美元中国输美商品征收关税，税率从10%上调至25%。中方对此有何回应？近期中美双方是否就经贸问题进行过沟通？是否讨论了如何缓和当前中美紧张的经贸关系？ 

　　答：中方在中美经贸问题的立场是非常坚定、明确的，没有改变。美方的施压和讹诈不会起作用。如果美方采取进一步升级举动，中方必然会予以反制，坚决维护我们的正当合法权益。 

Q: According to reports, the US side is planning to propose probably later today a 25% tariff on Chinese-made goods worth of $200 billion. This is an increase from previous proposal for 10% tariff on these goods. What is your response to this? Could you also tell us that has there been recently any communication between China and the US about the trade issue, specifically, about how to ease the trade tensions between the two countries?

A: China's position on the China-US trade issue is very firm and clear-cut and remains unchanged. The pressuring or blackmail by the United States will never work. If the US side takes steps to further escalate the situation, we will definitely take countermeasures to resolutely safeguard our legitimate and legal rights and interests.

　　至于你问到中美之间沟通与对话问题，我想说的是，中方始终主张通过对话协商处理中美之间的贸易摩擦，我们为此作出的努力和展示的诚意，国际社会非常清楚。同时我要强调，对话必须建立在相互尊重和平等的基础上，建立在规则之上，建立在信用之上。单方面威胁和施压只会适得其反。 

　　问：中方对澳大利亚外长毕晓普的访华请求有何回应？你是否认为毕晓普外长年内能实现访华？中方迟迟没有答复，是否反映出两国目前的紧张关系？ 

As to the communication or dialogue between China and the United States, I want to tell you China always believes that the trade frictions between China and the US should be resolved through dialogue and consultation. The international community knows fully well our sincerity and the efforts we have made in this regard. Meanwhile, I would like to stress that dialogue must be based on mutual respect, equality, rules and credibility. Coercing and pressuring others unilaterally will only be counterproductive. 

Q: What is China's response to the request by Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to visit China? Do you expect Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to visit China this year? Does the apparent delay in China's responding to this request represent the tensions in the current bilateral relations between China and Australia?