China Warns Countries Appeasing the US in Trade Deals
Beijing threatens countermeasures for those who make deals with Washington at China’s expense, intensifying the global trade conflict.
China, PUREWILAYAH.COM - On Monday, China issued a strong warning to other countries negotiating trade deals with the United States that could come at Beijing’s expense. China promised to take countermeasures against any nations that choose to "appease" Washington in the blistering tariff war.
The Tariff War Between US and China Intensifies
While the rest of the world has been slapped with a blanket 10 percent tariff, China has faced much steeper levies of up to 145 percent on many of its products. In retaliation, Beijing has responded by imposing duties of 125 percent on US goods.
A number of countries are now engaged in negotiations with the United States to lower tariffs, as Washington continues its full-scale trade war against China, the top economic rival of the US. However, Beijing warned nations on Monday not to seek deals with the US that compromise China’s interests.
China’s Firm Stand Against Appeasement
“Appeasement will not bring peace, and compromise will not be respected,” a spokesperson from China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement. The spokesperson continued, “To seek one’s own temporary selfish interests at the expense of others’ interests is to seek the skin of a tiger. This approach will ultimately fail on both ends and harm others.”
The statement emphasized China’s firm opposition to any party reaching a deal that would come at the expense of China’s interests, and reiterated that China would never accept such an outcome. Beijing vowed to resolutely take reciprocal countermeasures if such a situation occurred.
Trump's Tariff Blitz and Ongoing Talks
US President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff policies have led to Washington and Beijing imposing eye-watering duties on each other’s imports. This standoff has sparked global recession fears and caused market instability. Despite the ongoing tension, Trump expressed confidence on Thursday that the United States and China could reach a deal to end the trade war.
“We’re talking to China,” Trump said during a press briefing in the Oval Office. “I would say they have reached out a number of times,” he continued. Trump added that he believed a very good deal would be reached between the two largest economies in the world.
China’s Resolve to Fight Till the End
Although Trump remains optimistic, China has made it clear that it will fight the trade war "to the end." China has not confirmed whether it is currently engaged in talks with Washington, but it has expressed its openness to dialogue. Beijing has consistently criticized what it calls the United States’ “unilateralism and protectionism.”
Warning About Unilateralism and Protectionism
China warned that the United States' stance would lead to the erosion of the international order, with countries reverting to the "law of the jungle," where stronger nations prey on the weak. Beijing cautioned that this would make all nations victims in the long run.
China Calls for Dialogue, Rejects Compromise
China's spokesperson reiterated the country's commitment to dialogue but firmly rejected any agreement that would undermine its economic interests. The Chinese government has made it clear that it will not accept any trade deal that sacrifices its position for the sake of temporary benefits for other nations or for the United States.
Global Economic Concerns Amid Trade War
As the tariff war rages on, there are growing concerns about the global economic impact. Both Washington and Beijing are engaged in a high-stakes battle, which has sparked fears of a recession and uncertainty for international markets.
China’s trade strategy has made it clear that it seeks fairness and cooperation, rather than unilateral and protectionist practices. Beijing’s stance calls for a global effort to maintain an international economic order based on mutual benefit rather than the "law of the jungle." (PW)
Source: Tasnim