China raises stakes in trade war with US
Photo: China has warned other countries against trade deals with the US at Beijing's expense (Getty Images)
China has warned countries against concluding agreements with the United States that could harm Beijing's interests. China raises the stakes in trade war with Washington, showing how these states are at risk, according to Bloomberg.
China's Ministry of Commerce said that while Beijing respects countries' resolution of their trade disputes with the United States, it "resolutely opposes any party reaching a deal at the expense of China’s interests."
If this happens, Beijing "will never accept it and will resolutely take reciprocal countermeasures," the ministry added. "China is willing to strengthen solidarity and coordination with all parties, jointly respond and resist unilateral bullying acts," the statement said.
The warning comes as countries prepare for talks with the United States to seek reductions or exemptions from the massive tariffs that President Donald Trump imposed and later suspended on some 60 trading partners. Instead, Washington is pushing them to limit trade with China and curb Beijing's manufacturing capacity to ensure that the country does not find ways to circumvent the tariffs.
Trump's top economic advisers are discussing the possibility of asking other countries to impose so-called secondary tariffs - essentially monetary sanctions - on imports from some countries with close ties to China. Washington also wants trading partners to refrain from buying excessive goods from China.
Trade war
As previously reported by Reuters, Vietnam is preparing to take tough measures against Chinese goods crossing its border into the United States.
The US and Japan have started trade talks, and Taiwan has characterized the export control discussions as intense. South Korea's top trade official will visit Washington this week to kick off the talks.
China has stepped up its diplomatic ties with Southeast Asia and Europe. President Xi Jinping visited Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia last week to rally the Asian family that can better cope with the risks stemming from Trump's tariffs.
Earlier this month, China responded to the Trump administration's new duties not only by announcing its duties but also by tightening export controls on rare earth metals. Exports of the materials were almost stopped.
Earlier, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that China and Europe should jointly protect the trend of economic globalization and the international trade environment, as well as jointly resist unilateral intimidation methods by the United States.
