BEIJING – China said on Tuesday that it is closely monitoring US trade policies and will decide “in due course” whether to adjust countermeasures against new tariffs, following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a temporary 15% duty.
A commerce ministry official emphasized that China remains opposed to unilateral tariff actions and called on the United States to cancel existing tariffs while refraining from imposing further levies, signaling Beijing’s preference for negotiation over escalation.
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Trump announced the new tariffs after the US Supreme Court struck down previous duties imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which had applied a 20% tariff on imports from China. He initially proposed a 10% duty on imports from all countries and later raised it to 15%.
Other US duties under Section 301 and Section 232 legislation continue to apply to Chinese goods, while Beijing has previously responded with retaliatory tariffs on American commodities, energy products, and critical minerals to counter trade imbalances.
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China suspended most of its retaliatory measures in November following a trade truce, but the ministry stressed its readiness to hold frank consultations during the upcoming sixth round of US-China economic and trade talks to resolve ongoing tensions.
Trump plans to visit China from March 31 to April 2 for high-level talks with President Xi Jinping, providing an opportunity for both nations to discuss trade policies, reduce tariff pressures, and potentially stabilize global supply chains.