China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged developing nations to stand against “unilateral bullying,” a clear criticism of the United States' aggressive trade policies. Speaking at a roundtable of diplomats and scholars from the Global South, Wang emphasized that power politics and protectionism are eroding international norms and creating global divisions.
Without directly naming the U.S., Wang’s remarks targeted President Donald Trump’s decision to impose sweeping tariffs on trade partners. Trump’s April 2 announcement of “reciprocal” tariffs has hit China hardest, with a staggering 145% duty on Chinese imports. Although some tariffs on other countries have been delayed by 90 days, those targeting China remain intact, prompting retaliation from Beijing.
China is ramping up its diplomatic campaign, pressing nations like Vietnam and Cambodia—facing U.S. tariffs of 46% and 49% respectively—to reject what it calls unfair U.S. trade practices. President Xi Jinping personally delivered this message during recent visits to Southeast Asia.
In a further move, China is organizing an informal United Nations Security Council meeting on April 23 to publicly challenge the U.S. tariff policy, describing it as economic bullying. The meeting invitation criticizes the U.S. for imposing unilateral trade barriers that threaten global economic stability.
Some U.S. allies, such as Japan, have begun negotiating with Washington to seek relief from the tariffs. However, China maintains that any dialogue must begin with mutual respect and fairness.
Trump, meanwhile, hinted at a possible tariff rollback, acknowledging that excessive duties could harm consumer demand. “At a certain point, people aren’t gonna buy,” he said, suggesting he may scale back on further tariff hikes.
This escalating trade tension highlights the deepening rift between China and the U.S. amid a volatile global economic landscape.