China Demands Respect and Equal Dialogue from U.S. to Negotiate Tariffs: ´´We Do Not Fear a Trade War´´
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun urges the U.S. to stop the trade war.Photo:EFE.
April 23, 2025 Hour: 8:22 pm
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun warns: “The door is open for negotiations, but not under pressure.” Beijing rejects Trump’s “blackmail” and reiterates its readiness to respond “to the very end.”
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In a new chapter of global trade tensions, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Wednesday demanded that the United States abandon its “coercive tactics” and establish a dialogue based on “equality and mutual respect.” These statements come in response to Donald Trump’s announcement that he would “substantially” reduce the 145% tariffs on Chinese goods, a move Beijing considers insufficient without a change in approach.
Guo Jiakun was unequivocal: “If the U.S. wants dialogue, it must stop exerting maximum pressure and show respect.” He emphasized that China “does not seek a trade war, but does not fear facing one if necessary,” echoing Beijing’s longstanding rejection of “unequal agreements”.
Multipolarity as a response
The spokesperson denounced Trump’s tariff policies as lacking international support: “More countries will resist U.S. unilateralism.” This position reflects China’s strategy to strengthen alliances with emerging economies as a counterweight to Washington’s power.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned that “trade wars undermine the legitimate rights of all countries,” which analysts interpret as a call to consolidate a multipolar economic order. His words directly address the global impact of U.S. protectionist measures.
Although the U.S. president promised to reduce tariffs to “levels substantially lower than 145%,” he maintained his characteristic ambivalent tone: “We will be kind, but we will impose the agreement if necessary.” According to experts cited by Chinese media, this rhetoric reveals anxiety over the failure of unilateral sanctions.
China’s response: calculated resolve
Beijing combined signals of openness (“the door is open”) with clear warnings: “We will not allow our interests to be undermined.” This stance seeks to capitalize on the international backlash against Trump’s policies, reinforcing China’s role as a defender of multilateralism.
Guo Jiakun’s statements expose the fracture in the global economic order: while the U.S. insists on unilateral mechanisms, China consolidates its role as a champion of a multipolar system. The call for “mutual respect” is not mere diplomatic rhetoric, but a direct challenge to Western hegemony, backed by a network of South-South alliances that Beijing has systematically built.
Autor: YCL
Fuente: Telesur
