KUALA LUMPUR – Trade tensions between China and the United States have intensified, with Beijing raising tariffs on American imports to as high as 125%, according to Bloomberg.
The move follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to increase duties on Chinese goods to 145%, a development that has further fuelled fears over global supply chain disruptions.
Reuters reported that China’s latest tariff hike, announced on Friday, was a direct response to Washington’s continued pressure on the world’s second-largest economy.
While the U.S. has eased tariff measures on several other countries, it has opted to escalate duties on Chinese products, prompting a sharp rebuttal from Beijing.
“The U.S. imposition of abnormally high tariffs on China seriously violates international and economic trade rules, basic economic laws and common sense and is completely unilateral bullying and coercion,” China’s Finance Ministry said in a statement.
In a separate briefing reported by Global Times, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian reiterated the country’s firm stance.
“Tariff and trade wars have no winners. China does not want to fight these wars but is not scared of them,” Lin said.
“If the US truly wants to resolve issues through dialogue, it must stop applying extreme pressure and acting recklessly. These tactics do not work on China. Any dialogue must be based on equality, mutual respect, and reciprocity. If the US insists on continuing a tariff and trade war, China’s response will continue to the end.”
He added, “Our countermeasures against US bullying are not only about safeguarding China’s legitimate rights and interests, but also about defending international rules and order, safeguarding the common interests of all countries as well as global fairness and justice.”
Meanwhile, during a meeting in Beijing with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Chinese President Xi Jinping echoed similar sentiments, according to Xinhua.
“There is no winner in a tariff war, and going against the world will only result in self-isolation,” Xi said.
He reflected on China’s developmental journey, saying the country has advanced through “self-reliance and arduous struggle,” without depending on external goodwill, nor fearing “any unreasonable suppression.”
Xi also stressed the significance of China’s relationship with the European Union, describing both as key players in promoting globalisation and free trade. He urged closer cooperation between China and the EU in resisting protectionism.
“This not only safeguards the legitimate rights and interests of China and the EU, but also serves to maintain fairness and justice within the international community while upholding international rules and order,” he said.
Sánchez, in turn, affirmed the EU’s commitment to open trade and multilateralism.
“China is an important partner of the EU, and Spain has always supported the stable development of EU-China relations,” he said, adding that the EU “opposes unilateral tariff hikes” and believes “there is no winner in a trade war.”
He also emphasised the need for deeper collaboration with China in confronting global challenges such as poverty and climate change, while working together to maintain a stable international trade system. – April 11, 2025