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• Mon Apr 21 2025

China warns nations against 'appeasing' US in trade deals

2 hours ago Share Save Jo?o da Silva Business reporter, BBC News Share Save

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China has warned it will hit back at countries that make deals with the US that hurt Beijing's interests, as the trade war between the world's two biggest economies threatens to drag in other nations. The comments come after reports that the US plans to pressure governments to restrict trade with China in exchange for exemptions to US tariffs. The Trump administration has started talks with trading partners over tariffs, with a Japanese delegation visiting Washington last week and South Korea is set to start negotiations this week. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has imposed hefty taxes on Chinese imports, while other countries have also been hit with levies on their goods.

"Appeasement cannot bring peace, and compromise cannot earn one respect," a Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesperson said. "China firmly opposes any party reaching a deal at the expense of China's interests. If this happens, China will never accept it and will resolutely take countermeasures". The remarks echoed an editorial last week in the state-controlled China Daily, which warned the European Union against trying to "appease" the US. The comments came after reports that the US plans to use tariff negotiations to pressure dozens of countries into imposing new barriers on trade with China. The BBC has asked the US Treasury Department and the US Trade Representative for responses to the reports. Trump has said more than 70 countries have reached out to start negotiations since the tariffs were announced.