China has threatened consequences after U.S. President Donald Trump demanded that all NATO countries impose high tariffs on Chinese goods and stop buying Russian oil.
“If China’s interests are harmed, the People’s Republic will take countermeasures and defend its security and development interests,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Monday in Beijing.
He called the U.S. position a “typical case of unilateral harassment.”
In a separate statement, China’s Ministry of Commerce urged the U.S. to exercise caution and resolve trade and economic differences through dialogue.
Trump recently linked further U.S. sanctions on Russia to all NATO members imposing tariffs of 50 per cent to 100 per cent on Chinese imports and halting purchases of Russian oil.
He argued this would pressure China to use its influence on Moscow and help bring Russia to the negotiating table.
According to Trump, the proposed tariffs would be lifted once the war in Ukraine ends.
While China has positioned itself as neutral in the war, it remains a close and influential partner of Moscow.
Beijing has offered proposals to resolve the conflict, but Kyiv has rejected them, saying they align mostly with Russian demands.
Trump’s remarks coincided with ongoing U.S.-China talks in Spain, where representatives from both countries are discussing trade relations.
The long-standing tariff dispute between Washington and Beijing escalated earlier this year, with both sides imposing surcharges exceeding 100 per cent on various imports. A pause in the trade dispute remains in place until November.(dpa/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)