China has denounced countries that are practicing “appeasement” with the United States in trade negotiations regarding US tariffs, stressing that it “firmly opposes” any agreement that harms its interests.
Washington imposed 145% tariffs on most Chinese goods, even as high as 245% on some products, such as electric cars.
In response, China imposed 125% tariffs on US products and said it would continue the trade war “to the end.”
However, other US trading partners, who were subject to additional 10% tariffs, benefited from a 90-day suspension of much higher tariffs. Several countries are currently negotiating with the United States to reduce these tariffs.
Beijing responded by warning these countries against any agreement with the United States that would harm its interests.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said in a statement that “appeasement will not bring peace, and concessions will not be respected.”
The spokesman was responding to a question about the possibility of Washington asking some countries to limit their trade with China in exchange for exemption from US tariffs, according to the statement.
He added that his country “firmly opposes any party reaching an agreement at the expense of China’s interests.”
He stressed that “if such a situation occurs, China will never accept it and will take resolute countermeasures.”
In its statement, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce warned that “pursuing temporary selfish interests at the expense of others’ interests… will ultimately fail and harm others.”
