Beijing: China has warned countries against striking broader economic deals with the United States at its expense, ratcheting up its rhetoric in a spiralling trade war between the world’s two biggest economies.
Beijing would firmly oppose such deals and would “take countermeasures in a resolute and reciprocal manner”, a Commerce Ministry spokesperson said.
The ministry was responding to a Bloomberg report, citing sources familiar with the matter, that the Trump administration was preparing to pressure nations seeking tariff reductions or exemptions from the US to curb trade with China, including imposing monetary sanctions.
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
US President Donald Trump paused the sweeping tariffs he announced on dozens of countries on April 2 except those on China, singling out the world’s second-largest economy for the biggest levies.
In a series of moves, Washington has raised tariffs on Chinese imports to 145 per cent, prompting Beijing to slap retaliatory duties of 125 per cent on US goods. Last week, China signalled that its own across-the-board rates would not rise further.
“The United States has abused tariffs on all trading partners under the banner of so-called ‘equivalence’, while also forcing all parties to start so-called ‘reciprocal tariffs’ negotiations with them,” the spokesperson said.
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China was determined and capable of safeguarding its own rights and interests, and was willing to strengthen solidarity with all parties, the ministry said.
“The fact is, nobody wants to pick a side,” said Bo Zhengyuan, partner at China-based policy consultancy Plenum.
