The Chinese Foreign Ministry opposed the US move to impose additional tariffs on 60 countries. At a press conference on Friday, Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian stated that his country does not accept such unilateral tariff measures under any circumstances.
Lin criticized the US protectionist policies, saying, "Tariff and trade wars are in no one's interest."
The Office of the US Trade Representative had previously announced that the administration of President Donald Trump imposed additional tariffs of 10 to 12.5 percent on imports from 60 countries, citing their failure to prevent the import of goods produced through forced labor.
The decision came despite the US Supreme Court's February ruling that struck down tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
Trump continues to defend the tariff hikes as a way to reduce the trade deficit and protect American industry, particularly the steel, aluminum, and automotive sectors.
According to official data, the US ran a $1.24 trillion deficit in goods trade in 2025, while posting a $339 billion surplus in services trade. The total trade deficit was recorded at $901.5 billion.
The trade deficit with China fell from $295 billion in 2024 to $202 billion in 2025, while the deficit with the European Union dropped from $235 billion to $218 billion, and the deficit with Japan decreased from $68 billion to $63 billion.