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China has issued a sharp warning to countries considering broad trade agreements with the United States, cautioning them against doing so at the expense of Chinese interests. The message comes as trade tensions continue to escalate between the world’s two largest economies in a spiraling tariff war.
Beijing’s statement follows reports that the Trump administration is pushing nations seeking tariff relief from the US to reduce their trade ties with China. While President Donald Trump has imposed a blanket 10% tariff on many foreign goods, Chinese products face much steeper levies — in some cases up to 145%. In retaliation, China has slapped tariffs of up to 125% on American goods.
According to the US administration, several countries are now in talks with Washington to secure lower tariffs. But China’s Commerce Ministry on Monday made it clear that it “firmly opposes” any deals that would harm China’s economic interests.
“Appeasement will not bring peace, and compromise will not be respected,” a ministry spokesperson said, adding that “seeking short-term, selfish gains at the cost of others is like asking a tiger for its skin.”
Beijing warned that such strategies would ultimately fail and cause damage on all sides. “China will never accept any agreement that harms its interests,” the spokesperson stated. “If such a situation arises, we will respond with firm and reciprocal countermeasures.”
The ministry also criticized Washington for what it called the misuse of tariffs under the guise of “equivalence,” accusing the US of pressuring other countries into accepting one-sided “reciprocal tariff” negotiations.
China asserted its readiness to defend its rights and interests, while also expressing a willingness to unite with other nations in opposition to what it sees as American protectionism and unilateralism.
The intensifying trade war has rattled global markets and sparked fears of a worldwide economic slowdown, as both the US and China continue to exchange steep tariffs on billions of dollars’ worth of goods.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that the Trump administration is preparing to push countries seeking tariff exemptions to significantly reduce their trade with China — potentially even facing financial penalties if they fail to do so.
President Trump, however, has suggested that talks with Beijing are ongoing. “Yeah, we’re talking to China… I would say they have reached out a number of times,” he told reporters, expressing optimism about striking a favorable deal.
China, for its part, has not confirmed any active negotiations but has consistently called for dialogue while denouncing US policies as a threat to global stability. Beijing warned that international norms could regress to a “law of the jungle” scenario, where “the strong prey on the weak.”
“If that happens, every country will suffer,” the Commerce Ministry concluded.
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