China’s Warnings on Western Trade Deals (2024–2025)

China is making the world particularly smaller countries poorer and destroying their local industries while making them dumping ground.

In early 2025 Beijing intensified its public warnings that Asian and other countries should not strike trade agreements with the U.S. (or, by implication, Europe/Western powers) that hurt Chinese interests. In April 2025 China’s Commerce Ministry declared it “firmly opposes any party reaching a deal at the expense of China’s interests” and vowed to take “resolute and reciprocal” countermeasures if countries do so​. This rhetoric came amid an escalating U.S.–China trade war (with U.S. tariffs as high as 145% on Chinese goods and Chinese retaliatory duties up to 125%), and reports that the Trump administration was pressuring allies (India, Japan, South Korea, etc.) to limit trade with China in exchange for U.S. tariff relief​. Chinese officials framed these moves as “economic bullying” or “unilateral” attacks on the rules-based system​. In tandem, leaders like President Xi Jinping (during recent Southeast Asia visits) and Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged trading partners and the EU/UK to defend multilateralism and resist U.S. pressure​. Beijing’s messaging makes clear that any deal “at China’s expense” will incur retaliation​

Official Statements and Rhetoric

China’s Commerce Ministry has been the most vocal source of these warnings. In a statement on April 21, 2025, it said China “will firmly oppose any party striking a deal at China’s expense” and “will take countermeasures in a resolute and reciprocal manner” if that occurs. The same statement warned that pursuing short‑term gains by siding with U.S. tariff demands is “like seeking the skin from a tiger” – a Chinese proverb meaning a strategy that brings only danger and ruin​. The ministry added, “appeasement cannot bring peace, and compromise cannot win respect… sacrificing the interests of others in exchange for so‑called exemptions is like seeking the skin from a tiger. It will ultimately only fail on both ends and harm others without benefiting themselves.”​. In other words, Beijing argues that countries who cut deals to appease U.S. tariffs will be “eaten up” and harmed themselves​

Chinese foreign ministry officials and state media have echoed these warnings. Foreign Minister Wang Yi, for example, criticized U.S. tariff policy as “weaponiz[ing] tariffs to launch indiscriminate attacks” that violate WTO rules and undermine others’ rights​. During phone calls in April 2025 he urged the UK and EU to help “safeguard multilateral trading systems” against what he called “rampant unilateral bullying” by Washington​. Likewise, President Xi Jinping – in media articles aimed at Asian partners – warned that “there are no winners in trade wars” and urged countries like Vietnam to oppose “unilateral bullying” in economic affairs​. In a meeting with the Spanish prime minister Xi even pressed the EU to “join forces to defend globalization,” positioning Europe as an ally against U.S. protectionism.

These official statements make clear China’s bottom line: any trade negotiation that materially benefits others at China’s cost will be rebuffed. China repeatedly emphasizes it is “determined and capable of safeguarding its own rights and interests”​Commerce Ministry spokespeople have insisted that Beijing “firmly opposes any party reaching a deal at the expense of China’s interests… [and] will resolutely take countermeasures in a reciprocal manner” if it happens​.

Recent Warning Episodes

• April 2025 (Commerce Ministry): The most recent example came on April 21–22, 2025. In response to press reports that the Trump administration planned to offer tariff cuts to countries in return for cutting Chinese trade, China’s Commerce Ministry issued the above warning​.

• Simultaneously, U.S. officials were negotiating with Asian allies (India, Japan, South Korea) to seek tariff exemptions. China explicitly tied its warning to those moves. The Ministry stated it “respects countries’ efforts to resolve [their] trade disputes with the U.S.” but urged them to “stand on the side of fairness and justice… on the correct side of history,” avoiding schemes that undermine China​.

• Wang Yi’s Diplomatic Outreach: The next day (April 22), Foreign Minister Wang Yi called British and EU officials (including UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy) to make China’s case. He warned that U.S. tariffs were indiscriminate and urged allies to “eliminate all distractions” from issues like tariffs and to jointly preserve open trade. China’s state media noted this as a coordinated effort to rally support against U.S. tariff “coercion.”

• Xi in Southeast Asia (April 2025): Around the same time, President Xi Jinping visited three Southeast Asian countries (Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia) to shore up ties. Chinese reports say Xi told partners there are “no winners in trade wars” and urged them to reject “unilateral bullying”​. Vietnam’s state media quoted Xi emphasizing cooperation rather than joining any “encirclement” of China. These visits came just days after Xi penned an article in Vietnamese outlets calling for fair trade. By contrast, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance was in India on the same week pushing trade talks with New Delhi – heightening the sense of a contest for Asian allegiance.

• Contextual Examples: While the April 2025 commerce statement is the clearest new warning, it echoes a pattern. For example, in 2024 Chinese negotiators have simultaneously advanced deals of their own (bilaterally with Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, etc.) while warning these partners not to be swayed by U.S. incentives. (In Oct 2024, China and Vietnam signed agreements worth billions to boost agriculture and connectivity, reinforcing China’s role as Vietnam’s top trading partner​.) Chinese commentary in state media also ridiculed U.S. plans: analysts noted U.S. officials floated pressuring 70+ countries on tariffs, but Beijing stressed that China is already the largest trading partner for roughly 60 countries​ – a fact it cites to argue that Washington’s strategy has limited leverage.

Why China Is Concerned

China’s warnings stem from deep economic and strategic concerns about U.S./Western trade initiatives. Key factors include:

• Market Dependence: Many Asian economies are heavily integrated with China. A 2024 Lowy Institute study found about 70% of countries import more from China than from the U.S.​. In Southeast Asia, China is often the largest export destination. For example, Vietnam’s trade with China reached about $148 billion in 2024, up 21% year-on-year​. China remains Vietnam’s biggest trading partner and a vital supplier of intermediate goods. Losing such markets or supply chains to U.S.-led alternatives would slow Chinese growth. (By contrast the U.S. accounted for roughly $438 billion of Chinese exports in 2024 – about 15% of China’s total exports​ – so China wants to avoid even that share being further eroded.)

• Strategic Supply Chains: U.S. trade initiatives (e.g. the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework) and tariff talks often come with technology and investment rules aimed at China. For instance, Washington is seeking allies’ commitments on semiconductor, digital and mining supply chains, and offering tariff relief as an incentive. Beijing fears this could isolate its high-tech firms and cut China out of critical supply chains. Chinese officials describe these moves as attempts to contain China’s economic rise. In press briefings they accused the U.S. of using “tariff negotiations” to “isolate China”​.

• Trade-War Fallout: With tariffs at record highs (145% U.S. tariffs on China, 125% Chinese on U.S. goods​), global trade is disrupted. China has exempted some U.S. goods from its high duties to ease domestic pressures​, but broadly keeps them in place. Officials worry that if more countries side with the U.S. by shifting purchases (e.g. Japan boosting U.S. soybean imports​), Chinese exporters will lose sales. Beijing’s language (“seeking tiger’s skin”) implies that chasing one-off tariff breaks now will lead to bigger losses later​.

• Multilateral Norms: China portrays itself as defender of WTO rules against bilateralism. It accuses the U.S. of violating these norms: Foreign Minister Wang said U.S. tariffs have become “indiscriminate attacks… openly violating WTO rules and undermining the legitimate rights and interests of others”​. Chinese diplomats urge allies to uphold the multilateral trading system. In effect, Beijing warns partners that siding with Washington could erode the open global order that has underpinned its own export-led growth.

• Political Signaling: Chinese leaders want to send a clear deterrent message. The Commerce Ministry’s vow of “countermeasures” is as much a public warning to governments as it is a policy threat. By invoking nationalist themes (“China’s interests”) and proverbs about tigers, officials aim to sway public opinion in Asia. The tone is sharp: Beijing labels self-interested deals with the U.S. as “selfish” and ultimately futile​.

Regional Reactions and Analysis

Experts note this has put many countries in a bind. As one China-based analyst observed, “no one wants to pick a side” in the Sino–U.S. trade war​.

Governments must balance Chinese investment/markets against U.S. market access and security ties. Bo Zhengyuan of the Plenum policy consultancy says that most Southeast Asian states “have high reliance on China… in terms of investment, industrial infrastructure, [and] consumption,” so they are unlikely to fully accede to U.S. pressure​. Indeed, some Asian economies appear cautious about antagonizing China – Malaysia and Indonesia, for example, have assured China they view it as a key partner even as they negotiate tariff deals with Washington.

According to the Lowy report, China was the largest trading partner of 60 countries by 2023​. This broad dependence limits how far “buying American” can cut into Chinese exports. Still, countries with strong U.S. ties (India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, etc.) have been talking more with Washington – prompting Beijing’s warnings. The United Kingdom’s finance minister Rishi Sunak (before becoming PM) even publicly declared in April 2025 that “not engaging” with the world’s second-largest economy is “very stupid,” reflecting some Western doubts about distancing from China. In Europe, meanwhile, China has leaned on its EU partners to resist U.S. “bullying,” even as Brussels cautiously watches U.S. moves on trade.

Economists emphasize the global stakes. Trump’s tariffs risk slowing world growth, which hurts exporters everywhere. China’s currency plunged in late 2023 partly due to trade worries. Morgan Stanley analysts project U.S. tariffs could shave about 0.7% off China’s GDP growth in 2025 (though China would still expand ~4%)​.

For the U.S., tariffs on Chinese imports drive up prices for American consumers, so Washington has begun offering exemptions on items like certain electronics. But Beijing insists that piecemeal relief is no substitute for a return to open trade.

Conclusion

China’s recent warnings reflect its strong desire to shield itself from an emerging Western-led trade bloc. Chinese leaders have sent a clear signal: Countries that cut deals to “appease” the U.S. at China’s cost will face consequences. As one Commerce Ministry spokesperson put it, seeking U.S. exemptions by harming China is to “seek the skin from a tiger” – a strategy “destined to fail”​ Whether partner governments will heed China’s admonitions remains to be seen, but Beijing is determined to make it costly to move against its interests. In the meantime, this episode underscores how deeply the U.S.–China rivalry now affects global trade policy and diplomacy.

By John Ikeji-Uju
https://afriprime.net/Ikeji

https://afriprime.net/