China Slams Trump’s Tariffs as ‘Economic Bullying’

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian on Monday condemned US President Donald Trump’s latest round of “reciprocal tariffs,” labeling them as acts of economic bullying and unilateralism.

Speaking at a press conference, Lin stated that threats and pressure are not the appropriate methods for engaging with China. He described the recently imposed tariffs as classic examples of protectionism and self-serving policies that harm global economic cooperation.

“These tariffs are typical of unilateralism, protectionism, and economic bullying,” Lin said. “U.S. tariffs in the name of reciprocity only serve its own interests at the expense of other countries.”

The remarks follow Trump’s announcement last week of an additional 34% tariff on Chinese goods, raising the total duties on Chinese imports to 54% for the year. The steep levies are part of a broader campaign targeting most U.S. trade partners.

In response, China implemented a series of countermeasures.

When asked whether China would enter into negotiations with the United States, Lin deferred the question to other government bodies but emphasized the importance of fair global trade.

“The abuse of tariffs by the United States is tantamount to depriving countries, especially those in the Global South, of their right to development,” he said.

Lin called on all countries to uphold the principles of consultation, joint development, and genuine multilateralism.

He urged the international community to reject unilateralism and protectionism and to defend the global trading system anchored in the values of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization.