China has issued a stern warning to countries considering concessions to the United States in ongoing trade negotiations, cautioning against appeasement in the face of President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff strategy.
The warning from China’s Commerce Ministry comes amid a new wave of US-led talks aimed at pressuring trade partners into imposing restrictions on commerce with Beijing in exchange for exemptions from recently reinstated US import taxes. The Trump administration has held discussions with Japan and is set to begin similar talks with South Korea and India this week.
“Appeasement cannot bring peace, and compromise cannot earn one respect,” a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement. “All parties should stand on the side of fairness and defend international economic and trade rules, as well as the multilateral trading system.”
Since returning to office in January, President Trump has reimposed sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods—some reaching as high as 145%—as part of his “America First” trade policy. His administration claims the tariffs are meant to boost domestic manufacturing, raise government revenue, and curb reliance on foreign goods. A general 10% tariff has also been applied to imports from dozens of countries until July, unless bilateral agreements are reached.
Last week, reports surfaced that the White House intends to use these negotiations to persuade countries to impose new trade barriers on China. The US Treasury Department and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative have not responded to requests for comment.
“Japan doesn’t want to have to choose between America and China,” said Jesper Koll of Monex Group, noting that approximately 20% of Japan’s corporate profits come from the U.S., while 15% are tied to China. Tokyo began its trade discussions last week, led by chief negotiator Ryosei Akazawa in Washington.
South Korea’s acting president, Han Duck-soo, confirmed that his country will also enter into talks with the US this week, and US Vice President JD Vance is expected to raise trade issues during an upcoming visit to New Delhi, where India faces a potential 26% tariff rate if a deal is not reached.
Meanwhile, critics have questioned the long-term effectiveness of Trump’s protectionist approach. While the administration touts early signs of reshoring investment, analysts warn that reestablishing robust domestic manufacturing could take years and may cause economic strain in the short term.
The Trump administration has shown some flexibility in recent weeks. Just hours after tariffs took effect earlier this month, a 90-day pause was granted to all affected countries—except China—following backlash from markets and lawmakers. Still, Washington maintains that more than 70 nations have expressed interest in negotiating new trade terms under the revised tariff framework.
As global leaders prepare for another round of intense trade diplomacy, China’s warning signals growing unease over what it views as an increasingly unilateral and coercive US trade agenda.
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