China said it would take “countermeasures” against countries that take trade deals with the United States that it deems to be detrimental to its interests.
The Trump administration imposed a 145% tariff on China, which countered with a 125% tariff on imports from the U.S.
“China firmly opposes any party reaching a deal at the expense of China’s interests,” China’s Commerce Ministry 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.”
The governments of Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea have begun trade negotiations with the Trump administration after the president enforced tariffs against most of America’s trading partners.
The tariffs were later paused after the stock market wavered and dropped, but taxes on China were increased.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed optimism earlier in April that the Trump administration could reach a deal with its allies and added they could “approach China as a group.”
China called America’s tariffs against other countries “economic bullying.”
“Appeasement cannot bring peace, and compromise cannot win respect,” the statement continued. “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.”
The country said it remains open to negotiating with the U.S., but nothing has been announced. The tariffs will likely affect prices in sectors like America’s toy industry. “Christmas is in danger,” warned Greg Ahearn, president and CEO of the Toy Association.
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Bessent expressed pessimism earlier this month over negotiations with China.
“It’s unfortunate that the Chinese actually don’t want to come and negotiate, because they are the worst offenders in the international trading system,” Bessent said. What Beijing “should not do is try to devalue their way out of this.”