China unmoved by US tariffs

"CHINA has hit back hard against the US' tariffs, not only to safeguard our own interests and legitimate rights, but also to safeguard the international trade system with fairness and justice."

- THEOLIN TEMBO

This was how Chinese Consul General in Cape Town, You Wenze, articulated China's strong response to the US' significant escalation in its ongoing trade conflict with not only China, but other key trading partners.

On April 2, 2025, the US imposed a sweeping set of "reciprocal tariffs", including a 34% tariff hike on Chinese imports.

In response, China firmly rejected these measures, reaffirming its commitment to free, fair, and multilateral trade practices that benefit all nations.

Wenze explained that the imposed tariffs severely infringed upon the legitimate rights and interests of all countries, violated World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, undermined the rules-based multilateral trading system, and severely disrupted the global economic order.

He said the Chinese government had strongly condemned such a move, calling out the US “reciprocal tariffs” as not being true “reciprocity” but rather a bargaining tactic of the US to force other countries to accept the trade terms unilaterally set by them.

“China is committed to opening even wider to the world. We're confident, we're determined, and we have the ability to do the things that are good for Chinese interests, and that are good for the interests of developing countries,” Wenze said.

The Consul General added that it is precisely because of China's resolute countermeasures in the face of the escalating tariffs that the administration of US President Donald Trump has been changing its mind.

“By adopting firm countermeasures, China not only safeguards our own interests, our own development, but also safeguards international trade and order, international fairness and justice.”