NEW DELHI:  China has accused the United States of "economic bullying, unilateralism, and protectionism" in response to a new round of tariffs, as tensions between the world’s two largest economies continue to escalate.

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, Chinese foreign affairs spokesperson Lin Jian sharply criticized the U.S. tariff policy, saying it undermines global economic stability and disproportionately harms developing nations.

“Putting ‘America First’ over international rules harms the stability of global production and the supply chain and seriously impacts the world's economic recovery,” Lin stated.

Lin argued that Washington’s tariff measures — including the latest 34 percent duties imposed on Chinese goods by U.S. President Donald Trump — represent an abuse of economic power. With prior tariffs of 10 percent introduced earlier this year, the total duties imposed on Chinese imports now stand at 54 percent.

In a reciprocal move, China has announced its own 34 percent tariffs on U.S. goods. Despite significant market volatility in Beijing and Shanghai following the announcements, the Chinese government has projected confidence in weathering the economic impact.
“The sky won’t fall,” said an editorial in the Communist Party-run People’s Daily. “Faced with the indiscriminate punches of U.S. taxes, we know what we are doing, and we have tools at our disposal.”
Lin echoed the sentiment during her remarks, asserting that “pressure and threats are not the way to deal with China. China will firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.”

In an effort to ease tensions and maintain dialogue, China’s Vice Minister of Commerce, Ling Ji, met over the weekend with representatives from 20 American companies, including Tesla and GE Healthcare, according to Reuters.

During the meeting, Ling urged U.S. businesses to advocate for a more stable and cooperative economic relationship between the two countries.
“The root of the tariff problem is in the U.S.,” Ling said. “We hope the American companies can address the problem at its root, issue reasonable statements, take concrete actions, and work together to safeguard the stability of the global supply chain."

China has also called on the international community to reject protectionism and unite in defense of multilateral trade principles.
“The abuse of tariffs by the United States is tantamount to depriving countries, especially those in the Global South, of their right to development,” Lin said. “We urge countries to uphold the values of genuine multilateralism.”
As the trade conflict deepens, global markets and industries remain on edge, watching closely for further developments that could reshape international commerce in the months to come.