BEIJING, China – China has issued a stern warning to countries considering making trade concessions to the United States in exchange for tariff exemptions, following reports that Washington plans to pressure governments into restricting trade with Beijing as part of ongoing tariff negotiations.
A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce criticized the idea of appeasing the US in exchange for trade benefits, stating that such compromises would not lead to peace or respect.
“Appeasement cannot bring peace, and compromise cannot earn one respect,” the spokesperson remarked.
“China firmly opposes any party reaching a deal at the expense of China’s interests. If this happens, China will never accept it and will resolutely take countermeasures.”
These remarks follow reports suggesting that the Trump administration is using its tariff negotiations to pressure countries into imposing new trade barriers on China.
The US has recently started talks with various trading partners, including Japan and South Korea, about the tariffs imposed since President Trump took office in January.
Trump’s tariff policies have targeted Chinese imports heavily, with additional tariffs imposed on other countries as well.
The US has also hinted at further tariff hikes, with Chinese imports potentially facing levies as high as 245%.
In retaliation, China has imposed a 125% tax on American products and vowed to “fight to the end,” intensifying the trade conflict between the world’s two largest economies.
The US has said that the tariffs, designed to encourage American consumers to buy more domestically made goods and spur investments, will strengthen the US economy.
However, critics argue that such a strategy is far more complex and could take decades to materialize, with short-term economic difficulties in the interim.
Countries like Japan, which derive significant economic benefit from both the US and China, are under pressure as they navigate the competing demands from both superpowers.
Japan’s trade negotiator met with President Trump last week, and South Korea is set to begin negotiations this week, with India also preparing for discussions to avoid steep tariff rates of up to 26pc.
Amid these tensions, China’s warnings reflect its growing frustration with what it perceives as attempts to isolate it economically.
The escalating trade war has already caused significant disruption to global financial markets, sending shockwaves across the international economy as both sides prepare for a prolonged conflict.
