China issued a strong rebuke on Thursday against the United States’ newly imposed tariffs, declaring its firm opposition and pledging to take countermeasures to protect its national interests.
The statement followed US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 10% base tariff on all global imports, with an additional 34% specifically aimed at Chinese goods. Beijing’s commerce ministry criticised the move as a clear breach of international trade norms, arguing that the measures undermine the rights of other nations.
Describing the US actions as “unilateral bullying,” the ministry urged Washington to reconsider and resolve trade disputes through fair and equal dialogue. “These so-called ‘reciprocal tariffs’ are based on biased and one-sided assessments, violating global trade principles,” the ministry said.
Beijing also warned that the new tariffs would have far-reaching consequences, affecting not just China but the global economy, including US companies. “Such actions threaten the stability of international supply chains and hinder global growth,” it added.
While President Trump defended the tariffs as a necessary step to correct trade imbalances, China reiterated its call for negotiations, stressing that protectionism only leads to economic setbacks. “There are no winners in a trade war,” the ministry concluded. “History shows that tariff hikes fail to solve America’s internal challenges and instead harm its own interests.”
