China Warns Nations Against Aligning with U.S. Tariff Demands

China has expressed concerns that countries around the world are facing significant pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to negotiate trade agreements to avoid steep import tariffs, potentially at the expense of Chinese interests.

For the Trump administration, China is seen as the primary adversary, and there is a clear strategy to rally other nations into a collective stance against China in the ongoing trade conflict.

At the beginning of April, the United States implemented tariffs as high as 145% on goods imported from China. However, the most significant tariffs for other nations have been suspended for a period of 90 days, during which these countries are encouraged to engage in negotiations with the U.S. regarding their trade relations.

On Monday, China's Ministry of Commerce cautioned against entering into trade agreements that would undermine its own position. This warning came in response to reports from Bloomberg stating that the U.S. is preparing to pressure nations to limit trade with China, potentially through currency sanctions.

While issuing warnings, China is also extending an olive branch, indicating its willingness to strengthen solidarity with other nations. Recently, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited several Southeast Asian countries to bolster regional ties. The 15 nations of the ASEAN trade bloc find themselves in a delicate situation, balancing their relationships with China, its largest trading partner, against those with the United States, which ranks as the fourth-largest.

Analysts suggest that these countries are likely to prioritize their connections with China over those with the U.S. According to Jamieson Greer, the U.S. trade representative, around 50 countries have expressed interest in discussing trade agreements with the United States.

Later this week, China plans to convene an informal meeting of the United Nations Security Council, where it intends to accuse the U.S. of coercive tactics and using tariffs as a weapon, actions that China argues jeopardize global efforts for peace and development.