(Yicai Global) June 20 -- The US complaints about China's economic policies are designed to cover up Washington's unilateralism and protectionism, said the country's foreign ministry in response to US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo's remarks criticizing Beijing in the latest escalation of trade tensions between the world's two largest economies.

The US makes groundless accusations against China, said Geng Shuang, spokesperson for China's foreign ministry, in a press briefing today. Geng was commenting on Pompeo's remarks at the Detroit Economic Club, a speaking forum for government and business leaders based in Michigan, the US, on June 18 that Washington will take tough measures against what he called China's predatory economic policies.

"I have to point out that US remarks confused right with wrong and made irresponsible accusations against China to cover up its unilateral and protectionist moves," Geng said.

The US side has been ignoring the consensus reached by both sides during three rounds of trade talks, Geng said. "During the consultations China showed ample sincerity and goodwill. I hope the US side pays attention to this point," he said.

It has again provoked a trade war, Geng said. Washington's trade policies harm the interests of people and enterprises of both China and the United States, and as well as the interests of people all over the world, he added.

China does not want to fight a trade war, but it is not afraid of it. China will continue to take effective measures to resolutely safeguard its national interests and the interests of its people and resolutely safeguard economic globalization and multilateral trading system, Geng said.

The Chinese side hopes the United States to return to rationality and stop the statements and actions that harm both others and itself. This is where the solution lies, Geng added.

Editor: Mevlut Katik