China is calling on the United States to honor international trade rules, criticizing Washington’s recent moves in ongoing tariff negotiations as “unilateral bullying.” A spokesperson for China’s Commerce Ministry issued a statement on Saturday, responding to U.S. officials who suggested they might impose tariffs on countries that don’t agree to new trade terms by July 9.
U.S. authorities have expressed progress in talks with several economies and hope to reach agreements before the 90-day suspension period for proposed tariffs expires. However, they warned that they might unilaterally impose tariffs on countries without an agreement in place.
China’s spokesperson condemned this approach, stating that it disrupts the multilateral trading system and undermines international trade order. “Only by firmly upholding principled positions can countries truly safeguard their legitimate rights and interests,” the spokesperson emphasized.
Beijing reiterated its support for resolving trade disputes through equal-footed dialogue and constructive solutions. The spokesperson called on the global community to stand for fairness and justice, urging all nations to defend international economic and trade rules alongside the multilateral trading system.
Furthermore, China made it clear that it “resolutely opposes any party securing tariff exemptions at the expense of Chinese interests.” Should such scenarios arise, China pledged to take decisive countermeasures to protect its legitimate rights.
