The Chinese foreign ministry has criticized the U.S. decision to impose 245% tariffs on select Chinese imports, calling the move economically meaningless and a continuation of coercive tactics. The remarks followed the White House's April 15 release of a Section 232 fact sheet outlining retaliatory measures aimed at Chinese goods.
A ministry spokesperson stated Thursday that the U.S. strategy had devolved into a 'numbers game,' emphasizing that escalating tariffs had lost practical economic impact while highlighting America’s 'weaponization' of trade policy. 'Tariff wars have no winners,' the spokesperson said, asserting China’s stance of neither seeking conflict nor fearing it.
The comments signal Beijing’s hardening position as tensions escalate. The spokesperson warned that while symbolic tariff hikes could be ignored, 'actual damage to China’s rights' would prompt decisive countermeasures. Analysts note the exchange underscores deepening friction over trade practices, with global markets closely monitoring potential ripple effects across Asian supply chains.
