Tariff war explodes: Donald Trump pressures China with 245% duty, Beijing says ¡®stop threats, talk on equal terms with mutual respect¡¯

The United States has raised tariffs on Chinese imports to a massive 245%, according to a White House fact sheet released this week. US President Donald Trump made it clear that the next move lies with China. ¡°The ball is in China¡¯s court,¡± said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, adding that China needs to make a deal with the US, not the other way around.

She also said that China, like many countries, depends on the American market and consumer. ¡°They want what we have ¡ª the American consumer. Or to put it another way, they need our money,¡± she added.

China warns US against pressure and blackmail

Responding to the raised tariffs, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian repeated China¡¯s strong opposition. He said that if the US wants real dialogue, it should stop using threats, pressure, and blackmail. Talks, according to him, should happen on equal terms and with mutual respect.

Lin also said that tariff wars help no one. ¡°China doesn¡¯t want to fight, but we¡¯re not afraid either,¡± he said. He called the US-initiated trade war unfair and stated that China¡¯s counteractions are legal and necessary.

At a press conference, Lin added that China has always stood for removing trade barriers and working together, not fighting or separating economies. In a social media post, he said, ¡°China remains committed to joining hands, not throwing punches; removing barriers, not erecting walls.¡±

China appoints new trade negotiator

As part of its strategy to deal with rising tensions, China has appointed Li Chenggang as its new international trade negotiation representative and vice commerce minister. He replaces Wang Shouwen, who led previous trade talks with the Trump administration during his first term.

This move comes while Chinese President Xi Jinping is on a tour of Southeast Asia to improve China¡¯s global image as a stable economic and political partner. The new appointment shows that Beijing is preparing for possible future discussions, but only on its terms.

Trump pauses tariffs for others, but not China

Donald Trump with Chinese President Xi Jinping | Credit: X

Earlier, President Trump had imposed similar tariffs on many countries that the US had a trade deficit with. However, after over 75 countries approached the US for discussions, Trump paused the new tariffs for 90 days for those countries. For now, a basic tariff rate of 10% will apply to US imports in general.

But China is an exception. According to the White House, China has retaliated instead of opening talks. So the 245% tariffs remain in place, making the US-China trade battle one of the most serious ongoing conflicts in global economics.

China¡¯s economy still shows strength

Despite these rising trade tensions, China reported strong economic performance in the first quarter of 2025. Its GDP grew by 5.4%, which was higher than the 5.1% forecasted by experts. The growth was mainly driven by exports and came before the new US tariffs took full effect.

This growth is seen as a sign that China is prepared to face pressure and may not back down easily. However, both sides are still locked in their positions¡ªwhile the US waits for China to approach for talks, Beijing says it will only talk under fair conditions.