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China has warned nations that are negotiating trade deals with the US not to proceed with any deal that hurts Beijing’s interests.
China warns countries against any deal with US that hurt Beijing’s interest (AP File Image)
China on Monday slammed other countries opting to make trade deals with the United States at Beijing’s expense and vowed to take countermeasures against such nations that “appease” Washington amid the tariff war.
In a tit-for-tat move, Beijing has responded to the 145% tariffs on several of its products by the US with 125% duties on American goods. US President Donald Trump paused the reciprocal tariffs on other nations for 90 days, except for China, which continues to face the US tariffs.
Several countries are engaging with the US for negotiations to lower tariffs or sign a mutually beneficial trade agreement. India has also been engaged in discussions with US officials regarding a bilateral trade agreement.
China warned the countries on Monday not to proceed with any deal with America that hurts Beijing’s interests.
“Appeasement will not bring peace, and compromise will not be respected. To seek one’s own temporary selfish interests at the expense of others’ interests is to seek the skin of a tiger,” a spokesperson for Beijing’s commerce ministry said in a statement.
It added that such an approach will “ultimately fail on both ends and harm others”.
“China firmly opposes any party reaching a deal at the expense of China’s interests. If such a situation occurs, China will never accept it and will resolutely take reciprocal countermeasures,” the spokesperson said.
Trump last week expressed hope that the US and China could make a trade deal to end the trade war and informed that the two countries were in talks on tariffs.
“Yeah, we’re talking to China,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “I would say they have reached out a number of times.”
“I think we’re going to make a very good deal with China,” he said at the White House.
