Beijing Slams 'Appeasement' of US in Trade Deals That Hurt China

China on April 21 hit out at other countries making trade deals with the US at Beijing's expense, promising countermeasures against those who "appease" Washington in the blistering tariff war as its neighbours rush to secure favourable terms from the White House.

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BEIJING -

While the rest of the world has been slapped with a blanket 10 per cent tariff, China faces duties of up to 145 per cent on many products.

Beijing has responded with tariffs of 125 per cent on US goods.

Parallel to the US' full trade war against top economic rival China, a number of countries are now engaged in negotiations with Washington to lower tariffs.

The finance and trade ministers from South Korea – a major exporter to the US – will hold high-level trade talks in Washington this week, Seoul said.

South Korean giants such as Samsung Electronics and automaker Hyundai stand to take a hefty hit if the White House goes ahead with its threatened tariffs.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on April 19 that talks between his country and the US could be a "model for the world", after Tokyo's tariff envoy Ryosei Akazawa visited Washington and met President Donald Trump last week.

"The fact that President Trump came out (to negotiate with Japan's envoy)... shows he sees talks with Japan as important," he told the country's Parliament on April 21.

"Japan is their ally and the biggest investor and job creator in the US," Mr Ishiba said.

Tokyo and Washington are due to hold more talks soon, but the Japanese leader also said substance was more important than speed.