China on Monday issued a sharp warning against any country entering into trade agreements with the United States at its expense, asserting that it will “firmly oppose” such deals and respond with “resolute and reciprocal” countermeasures. The statement, from the Ministry of Commerce, comes amid reports that the Trump administration is encouraging US allies to curb economic ties with Beijing in exchange for tariff relief.
A spokesperson from China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said China respects the right of all countries to address economic and trade differences with the US through consultations conducted on an equal footing.
However, Beijing drew a clear red line, stating, “China is firmly opposed to any party striking a deal at the expense of the Chinese side. If such a situation arises, China will never accept it and will take countermeasures in a resolute and reciprocal manner.”
The ministry characterised these reported strategies as an extension of “hegemonic politics and unilateral bullying”, warning that appeasement in pursuit of short-term gains will ultimately harm all involved. “Pursuing so-called ‘exemptions’ by harming others’ interests, is akin to making a pact with the tiger for its skin-it will ultimately leave all parties empty-handed,” the spokesperson said.
The warning follows a report by The Wall Street Journal that the Trump administration is planning to pressure its trading partners to reduce their economic engagement with China as a condition for receiving reductions in tariffs imposed by the United States.
According to the report, the White House aims to “extract commitments from US trading partners to isolate China’s economy” in exchange for easing trade restrictions.
On April 15, US President Donald Trump announced sweeping new tariffs on Chinese imports, escalating the trade confrontation between the world’s two largest economies. The new levies include a 125 per cent reciprocal tariff, a 20 per cent duty framed as a response to the fentanyl crisis, and a range of Section 301 tariffs on targeted Chinese goods, varying between 7.5 and 100 per cent.
China retaliated swiftly, imposing tariffs of 125 per cent on US goods and lodging a formal complaint with the World Trade Organisation, accusing Washington of undermining the multilateral trading system.
Beijing described the American measures as going “against the whole world” and warned they would “seriously damage the rules-based international trade order”.
Despite the intensifying dispute, Trump said last week that communication between Washington and Beijing remains ongoing. “Yeah, we’re talking to China,” he said at the White House. “I would say they have reached out a number of times.”
China reiterated its commitment to defending its rights and interests while calling on the international community to unite against rising protectionism. It added that once international trade returns to the “law of the jungle,” all nations would be reduced to victims.
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