China slams US for hegemonic trade negotiations tactics

China firmly opposes any agreement that undermines its interests and remains fully capable of safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests, said the Ministry of Commerce on Monday.

The ministry's remarks came in response to some foreign media reports that the Trump administration intends to pressure other countries during tariff negotiations, urging them to restrict trade with China in exchange for exemptions from US tariffs.

"China will not, under any circumstances, accept any agreement that undermines its interests and will respond with firm and reciprocal countermeasures," said a spokesperson in an online statement.

The ministry official said that the United States has recently imposed arbitrary tariffs on all its trading partners under the pretext of so-called 'reciprocity', while pressuring others into engaging in so-called 'reciprocal tariff' negotiations.

This is, in essence, an exercise in hegemonic politics and unilateral bullying in the realm of trade and economics, cloaked in the rhetoric of reciprocity. Appeasement does not lead to peace, nor does compromise earn respect, said the statement.

The Ministry of Commerce warned that seeking exemptions by sacrificing the interests of others for short-term, selfish gains is rather like attempting to bargain with a tiger. It will ultimately end in failure on both sides, harming others without yielding any real benefit.

"In the face of unilateralism and protectionism, no country can remain unaffected," said the spokesperson. "If international trade reverts to the law of the jungle, where the strong prey on the weak, all nations will ultimately suffer."

China stands ready to strengthen solidarity and coordination with all parties, work together to confront these challenges, jointly resist unilateral bullying and uphold international fairness and justice, said the statement.