Taipei, Taiwan – Within hours of US President Donald Trump’s announcement Definitions on China, Canada and Mexico During the weekend, his Canadian and Mexican counterparts returned with their drawings on American goods.

China’s response, the largest strategic competitor in Washington, was significantly more restricted.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce did not announce a specific tariff in its response on Sunday, saying only that it would take “counter -measures to protect its rights and interests.”

The ministry also said that it will challenge the definitions of the World Trade Organization, which is a large symbolic action since the Appeals Authority has been non -functional since late 2019 due to Washington’s refusal to support the appointment of new judges.

Beijing’s silent response is relatively, as relations between the United States of China started to an amazingly friendly start under the second Trump administration.

When asked in the Davos Economic Forum on January 23 of his first invitation with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Trump said he believed that the countries would have a “very good relationship.”

In an interview with Fox News that was broadcast on the same day, Trump said he “no” does not impose a tariff on China and expressed interest in reaching a deal with Shi.

Julian Chaice, an expert on international economic law at Hong Kong University, said it is very reasonable for Trump and Xi an opportunity to agree.

“It is not necessarily because their broader goals are compatible, but because both of them work in a world where the political and economic leverage is repeated, as the customs tariff is largely clarified as much as it revolves around changing commercial balance Often dictates- Chise told Al Jazerera:

“This is particularly closely related to the fact that China has historically responded to the American definitions instead of wide revenge, and avoiding escalation when this is possible while making sure it does not look weak.”

While Trump’s imposition of 25 percent of the customs tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods represents a great shock to the trade system between the three countries – which has been operating under a free trade agreement since the signing of NAFTA in 1994 – China has been wrestling its exports since its first term in office.

Trump’s announcement of a 10 percent tariff also decreased by the 60 percent tariff that he threatened to impose on Chinese goods during his campaign to re -election.

In addition to the current definitions, the new measures bring the average tariff on Chinese goods from about 20 percent to 30 percent, according to Deborah Elmz, head of commercial policy at the Henretch Foundation in Singapore.

Emles said that Beijing’s decision to go to the World Trade Organization allowed him to conduct a dispute over the “principles” of global trade.

“Joining the World Trade Organization was a challenge for China, as it included a set of economic reforms and significant discounts in customs tariff rates,” ELMS told Al -Jazeera Island.

“But China continued to make the issue locally that it was useful that the benefits of being part of the global trading system were great. I think this is why China is now turning into the World Trade Organization as part of its strategy to face Trump.”

Beijing may also stand his time before offering other measures.

“It is an opening Silvo,” Ocun told Al Jazerara.

“It was not done to influence our behavior. The Chinese had to do something. If they did so, they can show all the local audiences in China and their global audience.“ We are following the rules, the United States is not so. ” that. “

The Chinese embassy in Washington, DC, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Despite the slowdown in the economy, Beijing is in a stronger position to negotiate with the United States than Canada or Mexico.

The Chinese GDP (GDP) is about $ 19 trillion, compared to US GDP by about $ 30 trillion. GDP in Canada and Mexico is much smaller, about $ 2.1 trillion and $ 1.8 trillion, respectively.

The Peterson Institute for Economic Affairs estimated that the definitions of Mexico and Canada can erase up to 200 billion dollars from the US economy over the next four years, $ 100 billion in the smaller economy in Canada, and reduce the economy of Mexico by 2 percent.

Separate definitions of Chinese goods can reduce the US economy with another $ 55 billion for the Chinese economy by $ 128 billion, according to the institute’s analysis.

Carsten Hols, professor of economics at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, said that Chinese policy makers concluded that the customs tariff would cause more harm to the United States more than China, given that Americans are facing higher inflation and that Trump may overcome his authority with sizes.

“There is no impulsion of an economic power to allow herself to easily provoke,” Halls told Al -Jazeera. “If Trump escalates his war against the People’s Republic of China, it is still possible to take great retaliatory measures.”

On Monday, the Wall Street Journal, citing unveiled sources, reported that Beijing plans to propose to revive a sealed trade deal in 2020 during the first period of Trump’s state in his post.

Under the terms of the deal, China has agreed to buy US goods worth $ 200 billion over two years.

However, the agreement was disrupted by the Covid-19s, and China is only 58 percent of its obligations, according to the Peterson Institute for Economic Affairs.

Chase said that a similar deal could be the ultimate goal of the United States and China.

He said: “The decrease in the rate of customs tariffs in China compared to the 2 % tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico indicates a strategic account, not purely economic.”