China on Monday warned countries not to team up with the US in order to win a reprieve from President Trump’s tariffs — with Beijing vowing it would retaliate against those that do.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce promised to hit back at any country that chooses to strike economic deals with the US at China’s expense, intensifying its rhetoric in a spiraling trade war between the world’s two biggest economies.
“China firmly opposes any party reaching a deal at the expense of China’s interests,” the Chinese government said in a statement.
“If this happens, China will never accept it and will resolutely take countermeasures in a reciprocal manner. China is determined and capable of safeguarding its own rights and interests.”
China said it was responding to media reports that the Trump administration was planning to pressure nations seeking tariff reductions as a negotiating tactic in a bid to get them to curb trade with China.
“Appeasement cannot bring peace, and compromise cannot win respect,” China warned.
“For one’s own temporary selfish interests, sacrificing the interests of others in exchange for so-called exemptions is like seeking the skin from a tiger. It will ultimately only fail on both ends and harm others without benefiting themselves.”
It comes after Trump raised tariffs on Chinese imports to 145%, prompting Beijing to slap retaliatory duties of 125% on US goods.
“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 Chinese ministry statement said.
