China respects all parties resolving economic and trade differences with the United States through consultation on an equal footing, but it will firmly oppose any party striking a deal at China’s expense, its Commerce Ministry said.
Beijing “will take countermeasures in a resolute and reciprocal manner” if any country sought such deals, a ministry spokesperson said, addressing a news report that the Trump administration was preparing to pressure other countries to limit trade with China in exchange for tariff exemptions from the United States.
“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 spokesperson said.
China is determined and capable of safeguarding its own rights and interests, and is willing to strengthen solidarity with all parties, the ministry said.
The Trump administration is preparing to pressure nations seeking tariff reductions or exemptions from the U.S to curb trade with China, including imposing monetary sanctions, Bloomberg reported citing sources familiar with the matter.
Earlier this month, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said nearly 50 countries have approached him to discuss the steep additional tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.
Several bilateral talks on tariffs have taken place since, with Japan considering raising soybean and rice imports as part of its talks with the U.S. while Indonesia is planning to increase U.S. food and commodities imports and reduce orders from other nations.
Trump paused the historic tariffs he announced on dozens of countries on April 2 except those on China, singling out the world’s second largest economy for the biggest levies.
China’s President Xi Jinping set off through three Southeast Asian countries last week in a move to bolster regional ties, calling on trade partners to oppose unilateral bullying.
“There are no winners in trade wars and tariff wars,” Xi said in an article published in Vietnamese media, without mentioning the United States.
China’s ambassador to the United States, Xie Feng, has urged Washington to seek common ground with Beijing and pursue peaceful coexistence while warning that China stood ready to retaliate in the escalating trade war.
Speaking at a public event in Washington on Saturday, details of which were posted on the Chinese embassy’s website, Xie said tariffs would devastate the global economy and drew a parallel between the Great Depression and tariffs imposed by the U.S. in 1930.
Referring to concepts in traditional Chinese medicine like the need to balance the opposing forces of yin and yang, Xie said harmony should guide relations between the world’s two largest economies.
“A good traditional Chinese medicine recipe usually combines many different ingredients which reinforce one another and create the best medical effect,” he said.
“Likewise, the earth is big enough to accommodate both China and the U.S,” he said. “We should pursue peaceful coexistence rather than collide head-on, and help each other succeed rather than get caught in a lose-lose scenario.”
The trade war has all but frozen the mammoth trade between the world’s two largest economies, with tariffs over 100% in each direction and a suite of trade, investment and cultural restrictions.
China’s top shipbuilding association on Saturday attacked a U.S. plan to apply port fees on China-linked ships.
While Japan, Taiwan and others are already in talks or preparing to negotiate with Washington over President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, there is currently no high-level dialogue planned with China.
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Trump said on Friday the U.S. is having good conversations privately with China amid the two countries’ trade war.
“By the way, we have nice conversations going with China,” he told reporters at the White House. “It’s, like, really very good.” He did not offer additional details.
China has said the U.S. should show respect before any talks can take place.
Xie said China opposed the trade war and would retaliate to any country imposing tariffs on it.
