China threatens ‘countermeasures’ for countries securing trade deals with US

China has issued a stern warning to other countries against entering trade agreements with the United States that would come at Beijing's expense. The statement comes amid reports that the Donald Trump administration is preparing to pressure other nations into limiting trade with China in exchange for tariff exemptions from the US.

Beijing warned that any country seeking such deals would face ‘countermeasures’ from China. 

“Appeasement will not bring peace, and compromise will not be respected,” a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce said in an official statement.

China also cautioned that striking such deals with the US would ‘ultimately fail on both ends and harm others,’ emphasizing that these actions could backfire on the countries involved.

The warning comes in the midst of an escalating tariff war between the world’s two largest economies. The US has imposed a 145% tariff on Chinese goods, while China has retaliated with a 125% tariff on US imports.

US President Donald Trump has stated that he is reluctant to continue increasing tariffs on China, warning that doing so could further stall trade between the two nations. While Trump claimed that Beijing has been reaching out to broker a deal, Chinese officials argue that US tariffs are damaging the global multilateral trading system and go against the principles of fair trade.

Meanwhile, several countries are reportedly in talks with the US to negotiate lower tariffs, according to sources.