A spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry stated on Monday that threats and pressure are not effective methods for engaging with China, criticizing U.S. President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs” as acts of bullying.
Spokesperson Lin Jian described the tariffs as emblematic of “typical unilateralism and protectionism, and economic bullying” during a regular press briefing. He emphasized that U.S. tariffs, framed as reciprocal measures, primarily benefit the U.S. while harming other nations.
Last week, Trump announced an additional 34% tariff on Chinese imports, contributing to a total of 54% in tariffs imposed on China this year, as part of broader tariffs affecting many U.S. trade partners. In response, China implemented a series of countermeasures.
When asked about the possibility of negotiations with the United States, Lin referred the question to other entities.
Since Saturday, U.S. customs officials have been enforcing Trump’s unilateral 10% tariff on imports from various countries.
Lin remarked that the U.S. misuse of tariffs effectively strips countries, particularly those in the Global South, of their developmental rights, highlighting the growing disparity between wealthy and impoverished nations, with less developed countries facing the most significant challenges.
He called for all nations to promote consultation, collaborative development, and “genuine multilateralism.”
According to a World Trade Organization document, China plans to raise the issue of U.S. reciprocal tariffs as a “new trade concern” at a meeting scheduled for April 9, a move interpreted by trade experts as an effort to form a broader coalition against such tariffs. China has also lodged a formal complaint with the Geneva-based organization.
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Lin further urged nations to collectively reject all forms of unilateralism and protectionism, advocating for the preservation of the international system and the multilateral trading framework in alignment with the principles of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization.
