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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Economy & Trade

China vows countermeasures if Trump’s tariff threat materialises

From The Punch · (1d ago) English Critical tone

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • China has threatened to impose countermeasures if the US follows through with a proposed 50% tariff on Chinese goods.
  • The potential tariffs are linked to US intelligence suggesting China may supply weapons to Iran.
  • China denies the reports, calling them fabricated, and emphasizes its role as a key economic partner to Iran while also maintaining ties with Gulf countries.

Beijing has issued a stern warning to Washington, vowing to retaliate with "resolute countermeasures" should the United States proceed with President Donald Trump's threat of imposing a steep 50 percent tariff on Chinese goods. This aggressive stance comes in response to unsubstantiated claims, amplified by US media outlets, that China is preparing to supply weapons to Iran.

If the US insists on using this as an excuse to impose additional tariffs on China, China will definitely take resolute countermeasures.

— Guo JiakunThe Chinese foreign ministry spokesman stating China's intention to retaliate against potential US tariffs.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun vehemently dismissed these reports as "completely fabricated" during a press conference. He stressed that China, while a significant economic partner for Iran, particularly in oil trade, does not maintain a formal military alliance with Tehran. Beijing's foreign policy approach is often characterized as transactional, balancing its economic interests with those of other regional players, including the Gulf countries, with whom China also maintains strong ties.

US intelligence indicated China was preparing to deliver new air defence systems to Iran within the next few weeks, citing three people familiar with the assessments.

— CNN report (cited in article)The US media report that forms the basis of the US threat, as mentioned in the article.

The US President's threat, reportedly linked to intelligence assessments suggesting China's potential delivery of air defense systems and shoulder-fired missiles to Iran, is seen by Beijing as a pretext for escalating trade tensions. China's response signals its determination to defend its economic interests and reject what it perceives as unwarranted interference and accusations. The situation underscores the complex geopolitical dynamics at play, with potential trade wars looming alongside regional security concerns.

Those reports were 'completely fabricated'.

— Guo JiakunThe Chinese foreign ministry spokesman's direct denial of reports about arms supply to Iran.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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