China Vows to Respond Firmly to New US Tariffs

Beijing, April 1, 2025 – China's Ministry of Commerce announced Monday that it will respond firmly and proportionally to any new tariffs imposed by the United States, in what it called a "unilateral and provocative escalation" in the trade dispute between the two powers.

The statement came hours after former President Donald Trump, as part of his new political campaign, threatened to impose additional 50% tariffs on all Chinese products entering the US market if "Beijing does not change its unfair trade practices."

"China will not stand idly by in the face of economic aggression. We will defend our legitimate interests to the end," a ministry spokesperson said at a press conference.

Escalating Trade Tensions
The new threats revive fears of a second trade war, similar to the one experienced between 2018 and 2020 during the first Trump administration. At that time, both economies imposed billions of dollars in tariffs on each other, disrupting global supply chains and generating instability in financial markets.

International Reactions
Various countries and international organizations have called for restraint. The World Trade Organization (WTO) expressed concern about the "unilateral measures" and urged both sides to resolve their differences through dialogue.

Economists warn that a tariff escalation between China and the United States could slow the global economic recovery amid a still-fragile context following the recent energy and health crises.