China Urges U.S. to End “Blackmail and Pressure” Tactics Amid Escalating Trade War
China on Wednesday criticized the United States for its continued use of “maximum pressure” and “blackmail” in trade negotiations, firmly rejecting President Donald Trump’s recent statement that “the ball is in China’s court.”
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters in Beijing that the ongoing tariff conflict was initiated by the United States, not China. He called on Washington to abandon its confrontational approach and reiterated that China does not seek a trade war, as “there will be no winner.”
The remarks followed Trump’s declaration on Tuesday, asserting that China must come to the table. “We don’t have to make a deal with them. They need to make a deal with us,” Trump said in a message conveyed by White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt. The U.S. recently escalated tariffs on Chinese imports up to 245%, prompting Beijing to impose 125% tariffs on all U.S. goods in retaliation. Meanwhile, China reported a 5.4% year-on-year GDP growth in the first quarter of 2025, reaching $4.42 trillion.
