By Gloria Nosa
Beijing has issued a stern warning to countries considering trade deals with Washington that come at China’s expense, vowing swift retaliation against any partner that compromises Chinese economic interests under pressure from the United States.
The move follows reports that the US, under President Donald Trump’s administration, is actively pushing other nations to reduce their trade with China in exchange for exemptions from newly proposed US tariffs—some of which could soar as high as 145%.
In a statement released Monday, China’s Commerce Ministry condemned what it called “appeasement tactics” by other nations and declared that “compromise will not be respected.” It warned that nations prioritizing “short-term self-interest” by striking deals with Washington would ultimately “fail on both ends and harm others.”
“China firmly opposes any party reaching a deal with the US at the expense of China’s interests,” the ministry said, promising “reciprocal countermeasures” against countries that align with American trade demands.
Growing Global Tensions
The warning comes amid a flurry of bilateral talks between Washington and countries seeking to sidestep the sweeping new tariffs. According to US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, nearly 50 countries have approached the US to renegotiate trade terms.
Among them:
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Japan is considering increasing imports of American rice and soybeans.
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South Korea is eyeing new LNG deals and joint ventures in shipbuilding and pipelines.
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Taiwan has offered zero-tariff proposals and expanded US investments by its firms.
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Indonesia is looking to ramp up American food and commodity imports.
Even the European Union has paused retaliatory tariffs on $23 billion worth of US goods in hopes of reaching a compromise.
A Delicate Balancing Act
While Washington touts the tariffs as a way to address long-standing trade imbalances, many countries remain deeply reliant on Chinese trade. In 2024, ASEAN countries conducted over $975 billion in trade with China—more than double their trade volume with the US.
Experts say most nations are hesitant to pick sides outright. “Nobody wants to choose,” said Bo Zhengyuan, a partner at Chinese policy consultancy Plenum. “If countries rely on China for investment, supply chains, and market access, they’re unlikely to cave to US demands.”
Meanwhile, Trump confirmed that talks with China are ongoing, despite the rising rhetoric. “I think we’re going to make a very good deal with China,” he told reporters last week, though Beijing has yet to publicly acknowledge such discussions.
As the trade standoff intensifies, countries around the world now face a difficult diplomatic challenge: how to maintain ties with both economic giants without being caught in the crossfire.
