Credited from: SCMP
China's Ministry of Commerce has reiterated its stance, opposing any trade deals made by third countries with the United States that compromise its own interests. This warning comes as nations scramble to negotiate with the US to prevent the reimposition of tariffs, which are set to return after a 90-day reprieve ends on July 9. "Should such a situation arise, China will never accept it and will take firm, resolute countermeasures to defend its legitimate rights and interests," the ministry stated, according to aa and scmp.
The ministry called out US President Donald Trump's "reciprocal tariffs" imposed in April as a manifestation of "unilateral bullying" that hinders global trade. Furthermore, it urged other nations to maintain principled positions in their negotiations with the US to safeguard their own interests, echoing a similar sentiment to previous statements by Chinese officials. This comes amid intensifying trade talks between the US and several countries, including the EU, Japan, and India, who are looking to secure favorable terms before the tariff deadline, as noted by bangkokpost.
Researchers in China, such as Xu Weijun from the Institute of Public Policy, assert that Beijing's repeated warnings reflect its awareness of Trump's unpredictable nature. "Trump is an emotionally driven leader with a history of flip-flopping," Xu explained, warning that the situation could change quickly. The US has thus far only reached limited trade agreements with China and Britain, described more as frameworks than concrete deals, according to scmp and bangkokpost.
As the deadline approaches, tensions remain high. Trump has hinted at potentially changing tariff deadlines, stating, "We can do whatever we want," which further complicates ongoing trade discussions. Both Washington and Beijing continue to communicate closely following a recent round of talks, with an emphasis on moving beyond tariffs to address more complex reciprocal controls affecting exports, highlighting the delicate nature of these negotiations as characterized by aa, scmp, and bangkokpost.