š„ Rising Trade Tensions Escalate As Beijing Slams US Tariff Hikes and Vows to Ignore “Unilateral Bullying”
š° By New Delhi Post | April 17, 2025 | New Delhi
In a sharp response to former US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff hike of up to 245% on Chinese imports, Chinaās Foreign Ministry issued a stern warning on Thursday, declaring it āwill not play the tariff numbers gameā and dismissing the move as political posturing. The response comes amid rapidly intensifying US-China trade tensions that threaten to reshape global supply chains once again.
šļø What Prompted the Escalation?
According to a White House fact sheet released late Tuesday, Trump’s administration rolled out the new tariffs, accusing China of retaliatory economic moves, including aggressive export bans and alleged manipulation of high-tech materials trade.
āMore than 75 countries have reached out to discuss new trade deals. The higher tariffs are paused for them ā except for China, which retaliated,ā the White House said.
The new tariffs target imports from China and come in response to Beijingās own recent moves, including:
- Raising tariffs on US goods to 125% (in retaliation to the USās 145% hike).
- Suspending exports of key rare earth elements like gallium, germanium, and antimony ā critical to industries such as automotive, aerospace, and semiconductors.
- Filing a lawsuit against the US at the World Trade Organization (WTO), accusing Washington of āserious damageā to the multilateral trade system.
š¬ China Responds: āUnilateral Bullyingā Will Be Ignored
At a press briefing, China’s Foreign Ministry said:
āIf the United States continues to escalate by playing the tariff numbers game, we will simply not engage. These actions go against the tide of globalization and multilateral cooperation.ā
Chinese officials accused the US of trying to weaponize trade and warned that these extreme moves could trigger long-term consequences not just for both nations, but for the entire global economy.
š Background: Tech War & Rare Earths
The US accuses China of strategically halting exports of six heavy rare earth metals, including essential rare earth magnets, to weaken America’s industrial and defense sectors.
These materials are used in:
- Electric vehicles (EVs)
- Satellite and aerospace components
- Defense equipment and guided missile systems
- Semiconductor manufacturing
š Global Impact Looms
Economists warn the escalating tariff war could ripple through global markets, lead to price hikes in electronics and cars, and delay green energy transitions due to shortages of critical minerals.
With Trump poised as a key contender in the upcoming US elections, his aggressive trade stance with China is expected to remain a hot-button geopolitical issue.
š Tags:
#DonaldTrump #ChinaTariffs #USChinaTradeWar #GlobalTrade #RareEarthMetals #WTO #Geopolitics #2025News #TrumpPolicy #ChinaRetaliation
