By Jin Xuan – National Development and Reform Commission of China
As the world’s largest developing country, China is a responsible major country that stands tall and just. Recently, as the US has recklessly wielded its tariff stick globally, China has resolutely stepped forward to counter hegemony and power politics, swiftly implementing a series of countermeasures. This is not only an inevitable choice to safeguard our legitimate rights and interests but also a moral act to uphold global fairness and justice, defend international rules and order, and protect the development rights of all countries. China’s unequivocal opposition to and rejection of unilateralism and protectionism have objectively forced the US to exercise restraint, temporarily suspending tariff hikes on goods from many countries and regions. This has provided affected parties with greater negotiation space and response time. Those who stand with justice gain widespread support; those who defy it face isolation. History and reality have repeatedly proven, and will continue to prove that antagonizing the world only leads to isolation, while walking hand in hand with the global community promises a future of shared success.
We firmly defend the achievements of human civilization, because history cannot be reversed. The vision of a harmonious world built on trust and mutual prosperity has long been a cherished ideal of the Chinese nation. Today, the concept of a “community with a shared future for mankind” resonates deeply across the globe. People worldwide have never wavered in their aspirations for a better life, their pursuit of fairness and justice, or their resistance to hegemony and power politics. In 1930, the Hoover administration’s indiscriminate tariff hikes triggered countermeasures by other countries, plunging the US economy deeper into the Great Depression—a dark chapter in US economic history. Nearly a century later, the US is repeating its mistakes, disregarding historical lessons and using fabricated trade deficits as a pretext to impose economic bullying through exorbitant tariffs. These actions, unprecedented in scope and impact, betray history, common sense, and the direction of human progress. Such actions not only directly infringes upon the legitimate rights and interests of global trade partners, but also pose unpredictable and severe consequences for the US economy itself. Voices of opposition within the US against the excessive use of tariffs are growing louder. In response to the tariff war unilaterally provoked by the US, China has consistently emphasized: “We will not provoke trouble, but we fear none.” Our stance remains clear: “Our door is open for dialogue, but if forced to fight, we will fight to the end.” We resolutely reject US recklessness, the fallacy that “might makes right,” and the law of the jungle. If a certain power, obsessed with supremacy and self-interest, believes it can dominate others at will, is this world truly “a world for all” or merely “a world for one”? Today, as the US recklessly incites trade conflicts, China stands firm under pressure, speaking out for justice. The world knows well who respects civilization and who undermines it. As the saying goes, “Thankfully, China is here and the sky will not fall.”
We firmly defend the global economic order, because international rules must not be trampled. The World Trade Organization (WTO) is a cornerstone of multilateralism. Its fundamental principles, such as Most-Favored-Nation treatment, provide crucial safeguards for 166 members, especially developing countries and small economies, to compete fairly and share equitably in global market opportunities. Since the WTO’s inception, global trade in goods and services has surged from $6.3 trillion in 1995 to $31.3 trillion in 2023, with 98% of global trade conducted under WTO rules. Regrettably, the US, leveraging its sheer size, now seeks to overturn the multilateral trading system with a “winner-takes-all” mentality, brazenly violating WTO rules and destabilizing the international economic order. As the world’s second-largest economy and consumer market, China stands firmly with the vast majority of countries, committed to mutual benefit and upholding the hard-won global trade framework and order. In recent years, China has proactively expanded imports and repeatedly slashed tariffs. In 2024, China’s goods imports reached $2.6 trillion, exceeding the annual GDP of most countries, generating jobs and business opportunities that benefit countries and regions large and small. Recently, China’s formal expression of concern at the WTO over US “reciprocal tariffs” resonated widely, with 46 members, including the EU, UK, Canada, and Japan, voicing support. As long as WTO members unite to defend international rules and order, the foundation of multilateral trade will remain unshaken, and the ship of free trade will sail onward.
We firmly defend the path to shared prosperity, because the right to development is inviolable. Development is a right of all countries, not a privilege of a few. The US tariffs have unleashed a storm of adverse effects, casting a shadow over global growth and roiling international capital markets. According to the WTO’s latest report, under current tariff conditions, global trade volumes in 2025 are projected to decline by 0.2%, nearly 3 percentage points below the “low-tariff” baseline. It must be recognized that the current global division of labor—interconnected, mutually beneficial, and refined through decades of competition and cooperation—represents an optimal allocation of resources shaped by market forces. This system respects countries’ rights to leverage their comparative advantages for development. The notion of “re-shoring manufacturing to the US” cannot be dictated by whims or slogans. The US, under the guise of “America First,” seeks to stifle others’ progress, revealing its hegemonic ambitions. China will never stand by as the US exploits the world and drags economies into crisis, compounding the fragility of the global economy. Among the over 180 countries and regions affected by US tariff coercion, China has taken the lead in countering these measures, setting an example because we understand that protectionism ultimately harms all. By safeguarding the stability of global industrial and supply chains through swift, precise, and resolute actions, China has forced the US to think twice before defying global consensus. Our message to the US is clear: Contribute to global growth, not chaos.
Appeasement does not bring peace, compromise does not lead to respect, and attempts to trade the interests of others for tariff exemptions are doomed to fail and will ultimately harm all parties involved. The US’s erratic tariff policies reflect anxiety and erode its credibility. China’s calm and firm response, in defense of both its interests and the common good of the international community, demonstrates resolve and earns trust. The world needs fairness, not hegemony. We firmly believe that no one can stop the wheel of history. When countries around the world join hands to uphold justice and shoulder responsibility, the wheel of history will keep rolling forward, and global development will surge ahead with unstoppable force!