China has brushed off the United States’ latest tariff escalation, accusing Washington of playing a “tariff numbers game” and warning that such tactics will be ignored if they continue.
The rebuke came Thursday after the White House released a fact sheet outlining that Chinese goods could face cumulative tariffs of up to 245%, including a 125% retaliatory tariff, a 20% fentanyl-related tariff, and additional levies ranging from 7.5% to 100% targeting unfair trade practices.
Earlier the same day, Beijing urged Washington to abandon its strategy of “maximum pressure” and “blackmail” in trade talks, pushing back against remarks by former President Donald Trump. Speaking Wednesday, Trump said, “China needs to make a deal with us. We don’t have to make a deal with them,” reinforcing his hardline stance.
Trump had recently imposed new tariffs on multiple countries but abruptly rolled back some of those duties—excluding China. Electronics, he noted, remain subject to tariffs related to the fentanyl crisis. In response, China increased its own tariffs on U.S. products and maintained its position that any negotiations must be based on mutual respect and equality. Unlike other nations pursuing bilateral trade deals with the U.S., Beijing has not initiated new trade talks.
Amid the deepening trade standoff, China lodged a fresh complaint with the World Trade Organization last week, accusing the U.S. of breaching WTO rules with its tariffs and expressing “grave concern.”
In a surprise move, China has also reshuffled its trade negotiation team, replacing long-time negotiator Wang Shouwen with Li Chenggang, its envoy to the WTO—signaling a potential shift in strategy.
Despite escalating rhetoric, Washington has left the door open to future talks, stating that Trump is willing to negotiate but expects Beijing to take the first step, claiming that China “needs our money.”
