'No Winners In Trade War': China Slams Trump’s Tariffs, Plans 'Countermeasures' With WTO Complaint

China condemned the US's imposition of tariffs on imports, vowing retaliatory measures. Beijing denounced the move as damaging cooperation and plans to file a complaint with the WTO.

File Photo of US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping

Source : X/@XHNews

China vowed strong retaliatory measures after US President Donald Trump signed an order imposing steep tariffs on imports from the nation, as well as Mexico and Canada, escalating trade tensions among longtime economic partners.  

Trump declared an economic emergency to implement a 10% tariff on all Chinese imports and a 25% duty on imports from Mexico and Canada. Canadian energy exports, including oil, natural gas, and electricity, will be subject to a 10% tariff. The move, which will take effect on Tuesday, comes as Trump pressures China to curb illicit fentanyl exports and urges Mexico and Canada to tighten controls on illegal immigration into the US, news agency AP reported.  

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the decision, saying, “The country’s government firmly deplores and opposes this move and will take necessary countermeasures to defend its legitimate rights and interests.” The ministry warned that the additional duties would “inevitably affect and damage future bilateral cooperation on drug control.”  

"China hopes that the United States will objectively and rationally view and deal with its own issues like fentanyl, rather than threatening other countries with tariffs at every turn," the ministry said, as quoted by news agency AFP.

China also announced plans to take “corresponding countermeasures” against the new tariffs and file a complaint against the US at the World Trade Organization (WTO), AP reported. “There are no winners in a trade war or tariff war,” Beijing stated, urging Washington to “correct its erroneous practices, meet China halfway, face up to its problems, have frank dialogues, strengthen cooperation, and manage differences on the basis of equality, mutual benefit, and mutual respect.”  

China’s Ministry of Commerce reiterated that Beijing has been regulating fentanyl-related drugs as controlled substances since 2019 and has engaged in counternarcotics cooperation with the US. It called on Washington to reverse what it described as wrongful actions and announced plans to pursue legal action at the WTO.  

Trump Tariffs Expected To Exacerbate US Inflation

The tariffs, if sustained, could have severe economic consequences. A new analysis by the Budget Lab at Yale warned that the measures could cost the average US household an estimated $1,170 in lost income while exacerbating inflation and slowing economic growth, AP reported. The order also includes a mechanism to escalate tariffs further if retaliatory actions are taken by affected countries, raising concerns of an even deeper economic rift.  

Democrats swiftly criticised Trump’s move, cautioning that any inflationary impact going forward would be a direct result of his policies.  

“You’re worried about grocery prices. Don’s raising prices with his tariffs,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York wrote in a series of posts on X. “You’re worried about tomato prices. Wait till Trump’s Mexico tariffs raise your tomato prices,” he stated.

“You’re worried about car prices. Wait till Trump’s Canada tariffs raise your car prices,” read another post.