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China's state media continued a barrage of criticism of the United States on Saturday as their tit-for-tat trade war escalated, while seeking to reassure readers the Chinese economy remains in strong shape.
Commentaries in the People's Daily, China's top newspaper, likened the United States to a bull in a China shop running roughshod over the rules of global trade and said that China was "still one of the best-performing, most promising and most tenacious economies in the world."
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States and Mexico were making progress on a trade deal, and warned Canada he would tax their auto exports if an agreement cannot be reached with Ottawa.US media criticizes Trump's tariffs decision on Turkey"Deal with Mexico is coming along nicely. Autoworkers and farmers must be taken care of or there will be no deal. New President of Mexico has been an absolute gentleman," Trump said on Twitter."Canada must wait. Their Tariffs and Trade Barriers are far too high. Will tax cars if we can’t make a deal!" he said. Deal with Mexico is coming along nicely. Autoworkers and farmers must be taken care of or there will be no deal. New President of Mexico has been an absolute gentleman. Canada must wait. Their Tariffs and Trade Barriers are far too high. Will tax cars if we can’t make a deal!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 10 Ağustos 2018 
Trump says progress made toward trade deal with Mexico, but warns Canada
The commentaries come as trade tensions between the two countries intensify. China said this week it would put an additional 25 percent tariffs on $16 billion worth of U.S. imports in retaliation against levies on Chinese goods imposed by the United States.
One commentary accused the United States of "rudely trampling on international trade rules" and not taking into account China's lowering of tariffs and continued opening of its economy, among other things.
"People of insight are soberly aware that so-called 'America first' is actually naked self-interest, a bullying that takes advantage of its own strength, challenges the multilateral unilaterally, and uses might to challenge the rules," it read.
Several U.S. media outlets criticized President Donald Trump on Friday for his decision to impose additional tariffs on Turkey.Trump ramped up his attack on Turkey by doubling U.S. tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel imports to 20 percent and 50 percent, respectively.UN trusts US, Turkey will resolve rowThe U.S. media widely pointed to the current state of Turkish-American relations and the case of American pastor Andrew Brunson, who is under house arrest in Turkey over terrorism charges.New York Magazine criticized Trump’s move in an article titled ‘Why Trump’s Turkey Tariffs Are Worrying Investors’, which said Trump announced he would double his country’s metal tariffs on Turkey “despite the fact that he has no good reason for doing so”.Turkey to retaliate against Trump's metal tariffsThe article, written by Eric Levitz, said the decision was related to Brunson, and while imposing a high tariff on a country’s steel exports is not the most conventional way to secure his release, “it might prove an effective one”.“Unfortunately, this still isn’t a good reason for Trump’s latest trade action — because it is an illegal one,” Levitz said.“The president launched his steel and aluminum tariffs on the grounds that maintaining a robust domestic metal industry was a core national-security interest of the United States, and that competition with metal imports was threatening to drive said industry into extinction.US's additional steel tariffs on Turkey to begin Aug. 13“This premise is absurd. But invoking national security is the only way to square Trump’s policy with U.S. law and WTO rules,” he addedU.S. channel CNN also said the White House “did not offer any explanation as to how U.S. national security is threatened” in the statement made regarding the topic.The Washington Post newspaper said the U.S. administration was doing everything to strengthen its hand in the Brunson case, but the decision would do nothing but cause more problems for bilateral relations.“I have just authorized a doubling of Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum with respect to Turkey as their currency, the Turkish Lira, slides rapidly downward against our very strong Dollar! Aluminum will now be 20% and Steel 50%. Our relations with Turkey are not good at this time!” Trump said Friday on Twitter.Turkey to retaliate against Trump's metal tariffsTurkey’s Foreign Ministry responded, saying "President Trump's decision on imposing additional tariffs targeting our country's steel and aluminum exports, in complete disregard of World Trade Organization rules, cannot be associated with seriousness expected from a state".Friday’s decision is another salvo in a growing dispute between Turkey and the U.S.Earlier this week, a Turkish delegation returned from Washington with no movement on the detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson, who is under house arrest in Turkey over terrorism charges.Brunson's charges include spying for the PKK -- listed as a terrorist group by both the U.S. and Turkey -- and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the defeated coup attempt in Turkey of July 2016.Turkey and the U.S. are currently experiencing rocky relations following Washington’s imposition of sanctions on Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu and Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul for not releasing Brunson.The two NATO allies have been at odds since the defeated coup, which Ankara accused U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen and FETO of masterminding.
US media criticizes Trump's tariffs decision on Turkey
Another commentary argued that the Chinese economy was stable and was expected to remain so.
In the second half of this year, "comprehensive deepening of reforms will continuously produce benefits." It said China could take steps to boost domestic demand while continued to cut corporate taxes and fees.
With these and other policies, "the Chinese market will show an all-new charm," the commentary said.
A separate piece in the People's Daily quoted vice agriculture minister Han Jun saying that if a trade war broke out, many other countries were willing and "completely able to replace American agricultural products' share of the Chinese market."
It also quoted the vice minister as saying that the impact of American tariffs on China would be "extremely limited", but warned that were a trade war to escalate, the U.S. agriculture sector would feel its effects.
Earlier this week, Chinese state media accused the United States of a "mobster mentality" as it moved to implement additional tariffs on Chinese goods. Beijing had all the necessary means to fight back, the reports said.