The Chinese Embassy in the United States and Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom (UK) Zheng Zeguang on Thursday both voiced firm rejections against the U.S. "reciprocal tariffs."
Noting the U.S. announced tariff hikes on imports from many countries, including China, under the pretext of reciprocity, the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. pointed out in a statement that the move gravely violates World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and undermines the rules-based multilateral trading system.
"The U.S. claims that it has suffered losses in international trade and is using so-called "reciprocity" as a justification to raise tariffs on all its trading partners. This approach disregards the balance of interests achieved through years of multilateral trade negotiations and ignores the fact that the U.S. has long reaped substantial benefits from international trade," the statement read.
The embassy noted that the U.S. approach is a typical act of unilateral bullying.
It urged the U.S. to stop doing the wrong thing and resolve trade differences with China and other countries through consultation with equality, respect and mutual benefit.
Using tariffs as a weapon seriously violates WTO rules, severely undermines the multilateral trading system and causes great harm to the interests of all parties, Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang said when attending a ceremony celebrating China's issuance of its first RMB-denominated sovereign green bond in London.
"Under the current circumstances, the international community should work more closely to reject the U.S. unilateral, protectionist and trade bullying practices and keep the global trading system stable," he said.
Zheng also said that China is firmly against the U.S. planned tariff hikes on China and will take resolute countermeasures to defend its interests.
China's embassy in US, ambassador to UK voice firm opposition to US 'reciprocal tariffs'
China's embassy in US, ambassador to UK voice firm opposition to US 'reciprocal tariffs'
China's embassy in US, ambassador to UK voice firm opposition to US 'reciprocal tariffs'
China has pledged deeper ties with its neighbors to foster common development and stability, following a central conference on work related to neighboring countries, which saw Chinese ambassadors from around the region gather in Beijing this week.
The diplomats and experts attending the conference said the country is working to promote regional collaboration amid growing global uncertainties, strengthening its ties with its neighbors in a way that takes account of both the regional and the global context.
"The trade volume between China and Malaysia reached 212 billion U.S. dollars [in 2024], marking an 11.4 percent year-on-year increase. A large number of infrastructure projects including highways, bridges, ports, terminals and hydropower stations are being implemented across Malaysia. China-Malaysia cooperation epitomizes the broader collaboration between China and ASEAN. We are confident that under the strategic guidance of both countries' leaders, bilateral relations will reach new heights," said Ouyang Yujing, Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia.
"ASEAN and China are geographically close and culturally connected, making ASEAN our important partner for development cooperation. Our combined population exceeds 2 billion, representing a massive market with sustained rapid economic growth in recent years and promising prospects," said Hou Yanqi, Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN.
Other Chinese diplomats said China was being guided by the principles of amity, security, prosperity and win-win cooperation, to promote a shared future with neighboring countries, using its own development to spur regional growth.
This vision has led to concrete achievements, with a consensus on a shared future agreed with 17 neighboring states, Belt and Road cooperation agreements in effect with 25, and 18 regional nations now counting China as their largest trade partner. These deepening political and economic ties have cleared a path toward warm neighborly relations and mutual prosperity, according to other ambassadors.
"China has established comprehensive strategic partnerships with all Central Asian countries and signed Belt and Road cooperation documents. We are jointly committed to building a community with a shared future," said Han Chunlin, China's Ambassador to Kazakhstan.
"The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, as a pioneering project of the Belt and Road Initiative, has attracted over 25 billion U.S. dollars in direct investment and created 230,000 jobs. It has not only elevated China-Pakistan cooperation but also contributed to Pakistan's economic and social development," said Jiang Zaidong, the Chinese Ambassador in Pakistan.
As the global challenges brought by unilateralism and economic protectionism grow, China remains steadfast in advancing its vision of a shared future, strengthening partnerships with neighboring countries to anchor stability and renew hope, according to China's permanent representative to the United Nations, Fu Cong.
"We must steadfastly uphold fairness and justice, adhere to true multilateralism, safeguard the interests of developing countries, maintain the authority of international law, and firmly oppose 'might makes right'," he said.
"Our world has become highly interdependent. Attempts at 'decoupling' or forced division are not only impossible but also go against historical trends. We must promote shared development through global cooperation. This represents the true exemplar of major-country responsibility," said Wang Fan, president of China Foreign Affairs University.
China pledges deeper cooperation with neighbors to foster stability
