US brazen bullying on trade to boomerang back with unbearable costs

BEIJING - Washington's efforts to slap tariffs on China and other major trading partners are destined to meet with retaliation worldwide with its continued disregard of global rules, supply chains and multilateral framework.

In a most recent move, it went further in extending tariff measures affecting another $200 billion imports from China.

The list rolled out on Tuesday adds to the Trump administration's tariffs on some $34 billion Chinese goods last week, and would in all likelihood pour fuel on the already escalating trade conflict between the world's two largest economies.

For starters, the US plan is illegitimate and ill-grounded. Its justification, or the so-called Section 301, is widely known as a one-sided tool that was born and bred in the Cold War era and has been banned by the World Trade Organization (WTO) to legitimize US-initiated sanctions, to which, by the way, Washington had once pledged to commit.

Besides, those hawks inside the Trump administration seem to expect an overturn of global supplies and a comeback of US productions by means of tariffs.

Both are fallacies. As shown in the fleeing of US motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson, the market rules will lead global investors to vote with their feet for lower costs and higher efficiency in the interests of their stockholders.

Even if the Trump administration really gets its way by disturbing the current global supply network, the sophisticated industries, sufficient labor force and snowballing middle-class market in Asia would warrant a re-integration of supplies inside the region, not otherwise.

In sharp contrast with the nosedive of US popularity among investors since the Trump administration announced tariffs, China's recent commitment to further reform and opening up has been attractive to Tesla and BMW.

Tesla will open its first overseas plant in Shanghai, with a planned annual capacity of 500,000 electric cars. BMW has also been thinking about expanding investment in China.

The German automaker has warned that the US tariffs on imported motor vehicles would further switch off foreign investments and domestic jobs.

Moreover, by overpromising and then underdelivering its commitment to free trade, Washington has pushed it to the limits in bullying China into making more concessions.

Washington's misconduct will not go unchecked. From China to Europe, from Mexico to India and Russia, those tariff tricks have paralyzed trade consultations, and reduced Washington into an object of resentment and retaliations.

The tariffs will render US companies and citizens more price hikes, and result in choked domestic investment and consumptions. Wherever those trade conflicts evolve, the US enterprises, its people and the economy will suffer.