China has criticized the newly established trade agreement between the U.S. and Vietnam, asserting that it poses a threat to its economy. The Chinese government has committed to taking “measures” to safeguard its interests.
Announced by President Trump on Wednesday, the trade deal sets Vietnam’s tariff rate at 20%, allowing the country to access U.S. markets without tariffs. Additionally, it aims to curb third-party nations, like China, from rerouting their exports through Vietnam by imposing a 40% tariff on goods originating from countries with high import duties.
“China firmly opposes any transactions that compromise its interests in exchange for what are termed tariff exemptions,” a representative from China’s Ministry of Commerce stated when questioned about the U.S. negotiations concerning a specific nation.
The spokesperson emphasized that if the situation arises, China would reject it and take decisive actions to defend its legitimate rights and interests.
While China expressed its willingness to engage in trade issue resolutions through equitable discussions, the spokesman also called upon all parties to uphold fairness and justice, reinforcing support for international trading norms and a multilateral trading system.
The president declared the trade deal with Vietnam, which is set to be effective just a few days before a broader tariff suspension. Since the announcement of Trump’s tariffs in April, the UK remains the only nation to have secured a complete trade agreement.
Chinese officials have consistently rejected Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs, labeling them as unilateral bullying that undermines the multilateral trading framework and disrupts the existing international trade order.
The official remarked, “China has always firmly opposed such actions. A nation can genuinely protect its legal rights and interests by steadfastly upholding its principles and status.”
Last week, the Trump administration finalized an agreement with China focusing on rare earth exports, building on previous discussions that alleviated tariffs on imports from China.
This week, the administration lifted several restrictions on exporting chip design software to China, just weeks after those restrictions were put in place.
