China has strongly condemned the United States’ recent tariff threat, describing it as an act of “willful intimidation and double standards.” This reaction comes after Washington announced its intentions to impose a 100 percent tariff on Chinese goods and enforce export controls on all critical software starting November 1. A spokesperson from China’s Ministry of Commerce stated on Sunday that such “willful threats of high tariffs are not the right way to get along with China.”
China calls for dialogue
China has urged the United States to solve the differences through dialogue and “correct its wrong practices” The spokesperson further emphasised that while Beijing does not seek a trade war, it is “not afraid of it either.” The spokesperson said that on October 9, China released export control measures on rare earths and related items, which are normal actions taken by the Chinese government in accordance with laws and regulations to refine its own export control system, as reported by Global Times.
“China urges the US to promptly correct its wrong practices, adhere to the important consensuses of the phone calls between the two heads of state, protect the hard-won outcomes of consultations, continue to use the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism, and address respective concerns and properly manage differences through dialogues and on the basis of mutual respect and equal-footed consultation, so as to ensure the stable, sound and sustainable development of the China-US economic and trade relationship, the Commerce Ministry spokesperson stated.
What led to Beijing’s sharp response?
A pointed response from Beijing followed US President Donald Trump’s announcement on Friday of sweeping new trade measures against China. The move came just a day after Beijing tightened export controls on rare earth materials, which is said to be crucial to key US industries.
“Based on the fact that China has taken this unprecedented position, and speaking only for the USA, and not other Nations who were similarly threatened, starting November 1, 2025 (or sooner, depending on any further actions or changes taken by China), the United States of America will impose a Tariff of 100% on China, over and above any Tariff that they are currently paying. Also on November 1, we will impose Export Controls on any and all critical software,” Trump stated in a post on Truth Social.
