Commerce Ministry Denounces "Secondary Tariffs"
In a forceful statement on Monday, a spokesperson for China’s commerce ministry slammed a US proposal urging G7 and NATO members to impose 50–100% tariffs on Chinese imports in retaliation for the country’s Russian oil purchases.
Describing the move as "unilateral bullying and economic coercion," the spokesperson said such measures fly in the face of international trade norms and violate understandings reached during a recent phone call between the two heads of state.
Global Trade at Risk
Experts warn that imposing steep “secondary tariffs” on one of the world’s top oil buyers could ripple through global supply chains—driving up energy costs for manufacturers, stalling production lines, and fueling price hikes in sectors from electronics to automotive.
With more than half of the world’s manufacturing interconnected across borders, any disruption threatens to undermine recovery efforts in the wake of recent economic headwinds.
China’s Response and Call for Dialogue
The commerce ministry reiterated that China will take all necessary measures to defend its legitimate rights and interests if its economy is harmed. At the same time, it urged the United States to pursue equal-footed consultations rather than coercion, stressing that collaboration is key to safeguarding the multilateral trade system.
“We call on all parties to uphold principles of fairness and work with China to maintain stability in global industrial and supply chains,” the spokesperson said, highlighting the importance of dialogue over unilateral action.
Reference(s):
China opposes U.S. tariff demand on China over Russian oil purchase
cgtn.com
