Gerrard Kaonga
Donald Trump’s announcement on tariffs has certainly shaken up the international economic landscape and China has hit back against the move.
China was one of many nations hit with tariffs from the US following an announcement from President Donald Trump last week.
Despite the pushback from allies and trade partners alike, Trump went ahead with his economic plan, which he called 'Liberation Day', and insists in the end it will ultimately be better for the American people.
Speaking at The White House's Rose Garden on April 2, the POTUS said: “This is Liberation Day. We've been waiting for a long time, April 2, 2025, will forever be remembered as the day American industry was reborn, the day America's destiny was reclaimed, and the day that we began to 'Make America Wealthy Again'.
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"For decades our country has been looted, pillaged, raped and plundered from nations, near and far, from both friend and foe alike.”
China doesn’t exactly see it that way, however.
Trump put an additional 34 per cent tariff on Chinese goods as part of 'Liberation Day', coming on top of two rounds of 10 per cent tariffs already declared in February and March.
And most recently foreign affairs spokesman Lin Jian condemned the US for its latest tariffs move.
Speaking to reporters, he said: “Putting the US first over international rules is a typical act of unilateralism, protectionism and economic bullying.”
Lin also spoke on the wider issues the tariffs were causing and issued a warning to the US.
He said: "Pressure and threats are not the way to deal with China. China will firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests."
He also noted that the tariffs harmed global supply chains and could have serious impact on the world’s economic recovery.
In response to the move by the US, China has so far suspended sorghum, poultry and bonemeal imports from some American companies.
As well as this, starting from April 10, China will add a 34 percent tariff on US goods. A spokesperson at the ministry of commerce also revealed China is also taking legal action over the US’ new tariffs.
The nation has filed a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization (WTO) amid claims that Trump's tariffs 'seriously violates WTO rules'.
The spokesperson said: "[The tariffs damage] the legitimate rights and interests of WTO members, and undermines the rules-based multilateral trading system and the international economic and trade order.
“It is a typical unilateral bullying practice that endangers the stability of the global economic and trade order. China firmly opposes this.”