China’s top diplomat has reacted to President Donald Trump’s newly imposed ‘arbitrary’ import tariffs, branding them as ‘evil, two-faced acts’ amid escalating trade tensions.
On February 1, the White House released a notice addressing what they called a ‘national emergency situation’ regarding the smuggling of deadly fentanyl into the country.
“President Trump is taking bold action to hold Mexico, Canada, and China accountable to their promises of halting illegal immigration and stopping poisonous fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into our country,” the address reads.
It was stated that until the crisis had ‘alleviated’ and the flow of fentanyl into the country had been ‘stemmed’, the 78-year-old would be implementing an additional 25 percent tariff on all imports from Canada and Mexico.
Additionally, PA reports that the US has imposed flat tariffs of 20 percent on all Chinese imports.
Beijing has since countered by slapping an additional 15 percent duty on items being brought into the US. This includes imported chicken, wheat, corn, and cotton, as per the Global Times.
Hitting back at the tariffs, a Chinese foreign minister has claimed the country has been penalized by the US’ ‘two-faced’ leader.
The spokesperson accused Washington of ‘meeting good with evil’, claiming the Republicans have used fentanyl as a pretext to threaten China economically, as per NPR.
“No country should fantasize that it can suppress China and maintain a good relationship with China at the same time,” diplomat Wang Yi said in a press conference on Friday (March 7).
Wang Yi has hit out at the US’ proposed tariffs (CNN)
“Such two-faced acts are not good for the stability of bilateral relations or for building mutual trust.”
Wang, who is also a member of the elite Politburo, said that fentanyl is a problem that the United States is ultimately responsible for.
“In the spirit of humanitarianism, China has provided various forms of assistance to the U.S., and the U.S. should not repay goodwill with resentment or impose unjustified tariffs. This is not the behavior of a responsible major power.”
He continued to say that whether there is a ‘blockade’ there will be ‘breakthroughs’: “Wherever there is suppression, there will be innovation.
“High walls cannot block innovative thinking. Decoupling and severed links will only isolate those who impose them.”
The diplomat stated that US officials should also review what has already been ‘gained from years of tariff and trade wars’, adding that ‘cooperation will lead to mutual benefit and win-win results’.
President Trump was branded as ‘two-faced’ by the Chinese diplomat (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
“But if one side insists on pressure, China will take resolute countermeasures.
“What has it achieved from tariffs and trade wars these years? “Has its trade deficit widened or narrowed?” he asked.
“Has US inflation gone up or down? Has the life of its people got better or worse?”
The political veteran added that he believed China had ‘brought much needed stability to a changing and turbulent world’, claiming Europe and the country should now step up communications amid the increased uncertainty.
Neither the US nor the Chinese government has publicly indicated that trade negotiation talks or conversations to elevate the tariffs are ongoing.
Previously, reports claim Trump and Xi Jinping, the paramount leader of China, have not spoken since the former resumed office on January 20.
Earlier this month, the Chinese embassy said that if it was ‘war’ that the US wanted, then the country was ‘ready to fight’.
“If war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we’re ready to fight till the end,” China’s embassy said on X, reposting a line from a government statement, as per BBC.
