China Condemns U.S. Reciprocal Tariffs, Vows Firm Countermeasures

China has expressed strong opposition to the United States' announcement of imposing so-called "reciprocal tariffs" on its trading partners, vowing to take resolute countermeasures to defend its legitimate rights and interests, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce said on Saturday.

The spokesperson criticized the U.S. move as a unilateral action based on a subjective and self-serving assessment, arguing that it violates international trade rules and undermines the results of years of multilateral trade negotiations. Such actions, the spokesperson noted, have drawn widespread dissatisfaction and opposition from many of the United States’ trading partners.

The spokesperson stated that history shows tariff hikes fail to address U.S. internal problems, instead damaging its interests, global economic growth, and the stability of industrial and supply chains.

The spokesperson emphasized that no one emerges a winner in a trade war, and warned that protectionism leads to dead ends. The U.S. claim of being disadvantaged in international trade disregards its long-standing gains from globalization and cooperation, the spokesperson added.

China urged the United States to immediately revoke its unilateral tariff measures and resolve trade disputes through equal and constructive dialogue.