BEIJING: China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao has warned that escalating US tariffs will “inflict serious harm on developing countries” and could even spark a humanitarian crisis, as the trade war between the world’s two largest economies continues to intensify.
In a call with World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on Friday, Wang criticised Washington’s continued imposition of punitive tariffs.
He said the measures have created “enormous uncertainty and instability” in global trade, according to a statement issued by China’s Ministry of Commerce on Saturday.
“These US ‘reciprocal tariffs’ will inflict serious harm on developing countries, especially the least developed countries, and could even trigger a humanitarian crisis,” Wang was quoted as saying.
“The United States has continuously introduced tariff measures, bringing chaos both internationally and domestically.”
Beijing’s latest response came after Washington raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 145 percent.
In retaliation, China has announced it will impose 125 percent duties on US products, with the new measures taking effect from Saturday.
The Chinese government described the US action as “a joke” and “a numbers game”, lacking any sound economic rationale.
China’s State Council Tariff Commission said on Friday that the US tariffs “seriously violate international trade rules, basic economic laws and common sense.”
In its statement, the commission accused the United States of escalating trade tensions unilaterally and said the new duties were aimed at protecting China’s economic interests.
Beijing has also filed a fresh lawsuit with the WTO challenging the latest round of US tariffs.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce said the US was responsible for the “turbulence” currently affecting the global economy, multilateral trade systems and international markets.
“The US alternately raising abnormally high tariffs on China has become a numbers game, which has no practical economic significance, and will become a joke in the history of the world economy,” the spokesperson said, warning that China would “resolutely counter and fight to the end” if the US continues to infringe on its interests.
Despite the growing rift, US President Donald Trump said on Friday that his tariff policy was “doing really well” and suggested progress was being made in negotiations.
The White House later stated that 15 other countries were also engaging in trade talks with Washington during a 90-day tariff pause announced earlier this week.
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Meanwhile, Taiwan has entered into tariff talks with the United States, seeking to reduce the impact of a 10 percent levy on its exports.
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te said the island was included in Washington’s “first negotiating list” and was working to eliminate the duties.
Taiwan’s Office of Trade Negotiations said officials held a video conference with relevant US representatives to discuss reciprocal tariffs, non-tariff barriers and export controls.
Taiwan has the seventh-largest trade surplus with the US, valued at $73.9 billion in 2024, with semiconductors and other ICT products comprising around 60 percent of its exports.
Notably, chips have been excluded from Trump’s latest tariff hikes.
Economists have warned that the prolonged trade war between the US and China, whose economies are deeply interlinked, could increase consumer prices globally and risk pushing the world into a recession.
The two nations accounted for more than $500 billion in bilateral trade last year, according to Chinese customs data.
Global markets have already reacted to the tariff battle, with stock indices fluctuating, gold prices surging, and US government bonds coming under pressure.
