A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, said on Monday that threats and pressure are not the right way to deal with China, describing US President Donald Trump's “reciprocal tariffs” as bullying.
Lin, who stated this while speaking at a press conference, stressed that the tariffs are typical unilateralism, protectionism and economic bullying, adding that US tariffs in the name of reciprocity only serve its own interest at the expense of other countries.
Recall that last week, Trump introduced an additional 34% tariff on Chinese goods as part of steep levies imposed on most US trade partners, bringing the total duties on China this year to 54%.
China, however, retaliated with a series of countermeasures.
Lin deferred to other bodies the question of whether China would engage in negotiations with the United States.
DAILY POST reports that US customs agents have been from many countries since Saturday.
“The abuse of tariffs by the United States is tantamount to depriving countries, especially those in the Global South, of their right to development.
“All countries should uphold consultation, joint construction and sharing, and “genuine multilateralism”, he said.
Lin also urged countries to jointly oppose all forms of unilateralism and protectionism, and safeguard the international system and the multilateral trading system according to the United Nations and World Trade Organization values.
