China has warned other countries against making a broader trade deal with the United States at Beijing’s expense, ratcheting up its rhetoric in a spiralling tariff war between the world’s two biggest economies. China’s warning came amid reports about the Trump administration’s plan to pressure nations seeking tariff negotiations from the US to curb trade with China.
While the US President Donald Trump slapped the rest of the world with a blanket 10 per cent tariff, China faces levies of up to 145 per cent on many products. Beijing has also responded with duties of 125 per cent.
The Trump administration has said that a number of countries are now engaged in negotiations with the United States to lower tariffs. But on Monday, China’s Commerce Ministry said it “firmly opposes” other countries making broader economic deals with America that compromise its interests.