China has issued a strong warning to countries against yielding to US tariff threats, urging them to resist pressure and stand up to what it calls a “bully” strategy by the US. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized that negotiations and compromises with the US would only encourage more exploitation of other nations through high tariffs.
Wang Yi’s remarks came during a BRICS meeting in Brazil, where he appealed to emerging-market nations to fight back against the US’s use of tariffs as a bargaining tool. He stated that the US, which has historically benefited from free trade, is now leveraging tariffs to demand excessive prices from countries. “If one chooses to remain silent, compromise, and cower, it will only make the bully want to push his luck more,” Wang warned.
China’s Foreign Ministry further emphasized its stance by releasing a video asserting that the nation will not back down in the face of external pressure. The video narrated, “China won’t kneel down. Because we know standing up for ourselves keeps the possibility of cooperation alive, while compromise snuffs it out.”
This call to action comes as the US continues to reshape global trade dynamics. Experts suggest that while China is showing resolve, they do not completely rule out the possibility of seeking a deal or de-escalation. Dylan Loh, an assistant professor at Nanyang Technological University, pointed out that China is trying to avoid appearing weak, but it may still be open to negotiations.
Amid these tensions, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted that China may be looking for ways to de-escalate. He pointed to China’s suspension of certain tariffs on US goods, such as medical equipment and semiconductors, as an indication of this intent. However, he added that the US has not taken steps to escalate the situation further, such as imposing an embargo or a trade ban.
Despite these claims, China has repeatedly denied engaging in trade talks with the US, maintaining that there are no ongoing negotiations between the two nations. This assertion has contradicted previous statements from US President Donald Trump, who had suggested that China reached out to him for talks. The ongoing trade war, which began with the US imposing reciprocal tariffs on all trading partners, continues to strain relations between the two largest economies in the world.
