In a dramatic escalation of trade tensions, China on Friday slapped a sweeping 125% tariff on all US goods, retaliating against the latest tariff threats issued by US President Donald Trump. This marks a significant increase in trade hostilities, with the White House now estimating that over 145% in tariffs are in effect between the two economic giants.
China’s Ministry of Commerce lashed out at the US, calling Trump’s tariff measures “abnormally high,” “unilateral bullying,” and a “blatant violation of international trade norms.” In a scathing statement, Beijing accused Washington of turning economic policy into a “numbers game devoid of practical economic logic,” driven more by political ego than global economic sensibility.
However, in a surprising diplomatic turn, China urged India to stay together to face Trump’s latest tariffs.
With both nations being frequent targets of American protectionist policies under the Trump administration, China has publicly urged India to form a united front. On Tuesday, Chinese Embassy spokesperson Yu Jing made a direct appeal to New Delhi saying, “India and China, as the two largest developing countries, should stand together to overcome the difficulties in the face of US-imposed tariffs.”
Yu emphasized that the China-India trade relationship is built on “complementarity and mutual benefit,” adding that developing nations should not allow the US to unilaterally strip them of their right to grow and compete on the global stage.
“Trade and tariff wars have no winners,” Yu added. “All countries should uphold extensive consultation, practice true multilateralism, and jointly oppose all forms of unilateralism and protectionism.”
The statement comes at a time when India itself has faced tariff pressures and trade friction with the US, particularly in sectors like steel, pharmaceuticals, and digital services. While relations between India and China have been strained in recent years—especially after the 2020 border clash in Galwan—Beijing now appears to be pushing for strategic economic alignment in the face of a common adversary: Washington’s aggressive tariff regime.
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