China's Commerce Ministry strongly cautioned its trading partners against succumbing to US pressure to limit trade with China in return for tariff exemptions. The ministry's statement emphasized that such appeasement would be unproductive and ultimately detrimental.
The warning follows reports that the Trump administration intends to leverage tariff negotiations to pressure US trading partners into isolating China's economy. This strategy involves seeking commitments from these nations to hinder China's trade routes, investments, and cheap exports.
China firmly rejects any agreements reached at its expense, vowing to take resolute countermeasures if such a scenario arises. The statement likened accepting such deals to 'asking a tiger for its skin'.
President Trump's recent decision to temporarily pause tariffs on most countries, while significantly increasing tariffs on Chinese imports to 145%, underscores the escalating trade conflict.