China accused Washington of abusing tariffs and warned countries against making economic deals with the U.S. that disadvantage China, amid escalating trade tensions between the two largest economies. The Commerce Ministry stated that Beijing would oppose any agreements made at its expense and would respond with reciprocal measures.
This statement follows a Bloomberg report that the Trump administration is pressuring nations seeking tariff reductions or exemptions to limit trade with China. President Trump had previously paused tariffs on various countries but continued to impose them on China, raising tariffs on Chinese imports to 145%, which prompted Beijing to retaliate with 125% duties on U.S. goods.
The Ministry criticized the U.S. for forcing all trading partners into negotiations centered around “reciprocal tariffs.” Meanwhile, Bo Zhengyuan from policy consultancy Plenum noted that many countries reliant on China would likely resist U.S. demands. In response to U.S. actions, China plans to hold an informal United Nations Security Council meeting to accuse Washington of bullying and undermining global peace efforts through its tariff policies.
As the trade war stirs financial market concerns about a potential global recession, Chinese stocks showed minimal reactions to the latest statements, although investor caution remains. The Trump administration has also aimed to hinder China’s advancements in semiconductor technology, imposing new port fees on China-built vessels.
President Xi Jinping recently visited Southeast Asia to strengthen ties and urged trade partners to stand against unilateral bullying. ASEAN, which has significant trade relationships with both China and the U.S., is facing challenges due to the ongoing tariff conflict, with trade between ASEAN and China reaching $234 billion in early 2025.