Beijing [China], July 24 – China has strongly condemned the United States’ decision to impose new import tariffs on dozens of trading partners warning Washington against escalating a trade war after Beijing was hit with the highest tariff rate under the new policy.
The new US tariff ranging from 10% to 12.5% took effect on Friday and apply to 60 trading partners. China faces the highest rate of 12.5% with the US administration saying the measure is aimed at addressing concerns over goods linked to forced labour.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Beijing firmly opposes all forms of unilateral tariffs arguing that trade and tariff wars benefit no one. Speaking at a regular press briefing he warned that such measures would deepen confrontation rather than promote cooperation and add further strain to global trade.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer defended the decision saying Washington has long restricted imports produced through forced labour and believes its trading partners should adopt similar standards.
The new tariff framework replaces the temporary global import duties introduced earlier this year by President Donald Trump. The administration revised its legal approach after the US Supreme Court in February limited parts of the president’s tariff authority.
Under the new policy, countries including Canada, the European Union and the United Kingdom which have implemented restrictions related to forced labour face a 10% tariff while major trading partners such as China, India and Japan are subject to rates of up to 12.5%.
The move threatens to reignite trade tensions despite recent diplomatic efforts. Following Trump’s visit to Beijing this year both sides had signalled a willingness to reduce tariffs but the latest US decision has raised fresh concerns over renewed friction between the world’s two largest economies.
