China has strongly condemned the latest round of US tariffs on its exports, vowing to take “countermeasures” in response to what it calls a violation of international trade rules.
The move comes US President Donald Trump reintroduces sweeping protectionist measures, imposing 10 percent tariffs on imports globally and a staggering 34 percent levy on Chinese goods. This marks a significant escalation in trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
In a statement, Beijing’s commerce ministry asserted that these measures “do not comply with international trade rules and seriously harm the legitimate rights and interests of the relevant parties.” Urging Washington to reverse course, China warned that such actions jeopardize global economic stability and disrupt supply chains.
At a weekly press briefing, Chinese officials denounced the US tariffs as “typical unilateral bullying” and “protectionism without an exit strategy.” The foreign ministry highlighted growing international opposition to these measures, emphasizing that they could backfire by weakening the United States’ own economic prospects.
China has previously responded to US tariffs with counter-levies of up to 15 percent on key American agricultural products, including soybeans, pork, and chicken. Analysts suggest that Beijing may now explore additionalJ retaliatory options, such as restricting exports of critical rare minerals crucial to US industries.
Chen Wenling, chief economist at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, noted that these tariffs pose a direct threat to China’s economic recovery, which has been struggling due to a protracted property sector crisis and sluggish domestic consumption.
‘No Winner in a Trade War’
Despite Trump branding the new tariffs as “reciprocal,” many experts argue that his administration’s claims about US trade losses are exaggerated. China has dismissed the justification, stating that the US has historically benefited from international trade agreements and multilateral negotiations.
“There is no winner in a trade war, and history has proven that raising tariffs does not solve the US’s own problems,” China’s commerce ministry said. Instead, it urged dialogue and diplomatic negotiation to resolve economic disputes.
The latest round of US tariffs also includes a 25 percent duty on steel and aluminum imports, affecting China, the world’s leading steel producer, though not a major supplier to the United States.
As the trade conflict deepens, global markets brace for potential fallout, with economists warning that prolonged economic hostilities could hinder post-pandemic recovery efforts and create lasting instability in international commerce.
