China announced on Monday that it “strongly opposes” other countries striking trade deals with the United States at Beijing’s expense, warning that it will take “countermeasures” in response.
While Washington imposed a basic tariff of 10 percent on most countries, it levied additional tariffs of up to 145 percent on many goods from China. In turn, Beijing retaliated by imposing tariffs of 125 percent on American products.
Several countries are currently engaged in negotiations with the United States to lower tariffs amid Washington’s comprehensive trade war against China, the largest economic competitor of the United States.
Today, Beijing warned nations against seeking agreements with the United States that jeopardize their interests.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce stated in a press release that “appeasement will not bring peace, and concessions will not be respected.”
He added that his country “strongly opposes any party reaching an agreement at the expense of China’s interests,” emphasizing that “if such a situation arises, China will never accept it and will take resolute countermeasures in response.”
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce warned in its statement that “pursuing selfish temporary interests at the expense of others’ interests (…) will ultimately fail and harm others.”
