China Threatens Retaliation Against Nations Aligning with U.S. Tariff Demands

China’s Ministry of Commerce on April 21 issued a stern warning to countries that acquiesce to U.S. pressure on trade negotiations, vowing “reciprocal countermeasures” if any agreement undermines Beijing’s core interests. The statement marks a hardening stance as the world’s two largest economies deepen their tariff standoff.

Since early April, the Trump administration lifted most of its blanket tariffs but maintained the steepest duties—now at 145%—on Chinese exports. In a swift response, Beijing imposed 125% tariffs on a range of American imports, signaling its readiness to escalate the dispute if necessary.

To rally international support, China will convene an informal meeting of the U.N. Security Council, framing U.S. tariff tactics as a form of “unilateral bullying” that threatens the global trading system. Officials argue that forcing smaller economies to choose sides “risks returning international trade to the law of the jungle.”

Several U.S. allies and trading partners—most notably Japan and Indonesia—have entered talks with Washington seeking carve‑outs on key commodities such as soybeans, rice and palm oil. These nations aim to strike a balance between U.S. demands and their growing economic dependence on China, which has become their largest trading partner at the regional level.

President Xi Jinping’s recent visits to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia underscore Beijing’s push to solidify ties in Southeast Asia amid mounting trade tensions. As tariff diplomacy intensifies, businesses and governments worldwide face mounting uncertainty over supply chains and market access—and no clear end to the trade impasse appears in sight.