Snuffing out others’ candles does not bring light to oneself
The rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core has made significant contributions to advancing global trade development, promoting economic growth, and fostering sustainable development. Regrettably, the United States— a long-term beneficiary of free international trade and economic globalization — has recently announced, under various pretexts, the imposition of so-called “reciprocal tariffs” on all its trading partners. This move seriously infringes upon the legitimate rights and interests of all countries, seriously violates WTO rules, severely undermines the rules-based multilateral trading system, and severely disrupts the global economic order. The Chinese government strongly condemns and firmly opposes such move.
By abusing tariffs, the U.S. defies the fundamental laws of economics and market principles, disregards the balanced outcomes achieved through multilateral trade negotiations, and weaponizes tariffs to exert maximum pressure for selfish interests. This is a typical act of unilateralism, protectionism and economic bullying. Under the guise of “reciprocity” and “fairness,” the U.S. is playing a zero-sum game to pursue in essence “America First” and “American exceptionalism.” It attempts to exploit tariffs to subvert the existing international economic and trade order, put U.S. interests above the common good of the international community, and advance U.S. hegemonic ambitions at the cost of the legitimate interests of all countries. It has artificially disrupted established global supply and industrial chains, undermined market-oriented free trade rules, severely hindered the economic development of various countries, sparking widespread opposition from the international community.
The U.S. subjectively conjectured that “unfair trade practices by other countries” is attributing to its long-standing trade deficits, however, from both an economic and factual standpoint, this is groundless. The U.S. trade deficit is a result of market forces and is influenced by various factors such as industrial competitiveness, economic structure, global division of labor, trade policies, and the U.S. dollar’s status as an international currency. A trade deficit does not equate to a loss in trade. In fact, the U.S. has reaped substantial benefits from international trade. In 2023 alone, its service trade surplus reached $278 billion, and in 2024, U.S. corporations earned as much as $632 billion in overseas profits.
The U.S. abuse of tariffs not only poses significant risks to global economic development, but will also further strain its own economy. According to analysis of the Budget Lab at Yale University, a 20% broad tariff by the U.S. would raise consumer prices in the country by between 2.1% and 2.6%, this is equivalent to a loss of purchasing power of up to $4,200 per American household on average per year. American businesses are also expected to suffer, with new tariffs projected to impose an additional cost of $433 billion on U.S. companies. As noted by The Economist, U.S. trade policy is regressing to the 19th century, ignoring the unprecedented prosperity which globalization has brought to the U.S..
As the second largest economy and second largest market for consumer goods, China is committed to opening ever wider to the world, no matter how the international situation changes. We will continue to advance high-standard opening up. We will implement high-standard policies for trade and investment liberalization and facilitation. We will share our development opportunities with the world to achieve mutual benefits. And we will explore more potential of imports to transform China's vast market into a shared global market, injecting new impetus into the world economy.
China is an ancient civilization and a land of propriety and righteousness. The Chinese people value sincerity and good faith. We do not provoke trouble, nor are we intimidated by it. Pressuring and threatening are not the right way in dealing with China. China has taken and will continue to take resolute measures to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and development interests. China-U.S. economic relations should be mutually beneficial and win-win in nature. The United States should go along with the shared aspiration of the peoples of the two countries and the world, and, minding the fundamental interests of the two countries, stop using tariffs as a weapon to suppress China economically and stop undermining the legitimate development rights of the Chinese people.
Economic globalization is the only way to human progress, openness and cooperation are a historical trend. There are no winners in trade or tariff wars, and protectionism is a dead end. China will work with the international community to uphold true multilateralism, jointly oppose all forms of unilateralism and protectionism, and safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core, as well as the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core. China stands ready to strengthen communication and coordination with all countries, including Namibia, to jointly address the headwinds that hinders economic globalization.
Snuffing out others’ candles does not bring light to oneself. I believe that the vast majority of countries in the world, which believe in fairness and justice, will choose to stand on the right side of history.
*Zhao Weiping is the Chinese ambassador to Namibia.**
By abusing tariffs, the U.S. defies the fundamental laws of economics and market principles, disregards the balanced outcomes achieved through multilateral trade negotiations, and weaponizes tariffs to exert maximum pressure for selfish interests. This is a typical act of unilateralism, protectionism and economic bullying. Under the guise of “reciprocity” and “fairness,” the U.S. is playing a zero-sum game to pursue in essence “America First” and “American exceptionalism.” It attempts to exploit tariffs to subvert the existing international economic and trade order, put U.S. interests above the common good of the international community, and advance U.S. hegemonic ambitions at the cost of the legitimate interests of all countries. It has artificially disrupted established global supply and industrial chains, undermined market-oriented free trade rules, severely hindered the economic development of various countries, sparking widespread opposition from the international community.
The U.S. subjectively conjectured that “unfair trade practices by other countries” is attributing to its long-standing trade deficits, however, from both an economic and factual standpoint, this is groundless. The U.S. trade deficit is a result of market forces and is influenced by various factors such as industrial competitiveness, economic structure, global division of labor, trade policies, and the U.S. dollar’s status as an international currency. A trade deficit does not equate to a loss in trade. In fact, the U.S. has reaped substantial benefits from international trade. In 2023 alone, its service trade surplus reached $278 billion, and in 2024, U.S. corporations earned as much as $632 billion in overseas profits.
The U.S. abuse of tariffs not only poses significant risks to global economic development, but will also further strain its own economy. According to analysis of the Budget Lab at Yale University, a 20% broad tariff by the U.S. would raise consumer prices in the country by between 2.1% and 2.6%, this is equivalent to a loss of purchasing power of up to $4,200 per American household on average per year. American businesses are also expected to suffer, with new tariffs projected to impose an additional cost of $433 billion on U.S. companies. As noted by The Economist, U.S. trade policy is regressing to the 19th century, ignoring the unprecedented prosperity which globalization has brought to the U.S..
As the second largest economy and second largest market for consumer goods, China is committed to opening ever wider to the world, no matter how the international situation changes. We will continue to advance high-standard opening up. We will implement high-standard policies for trade and investment liberalization and facilitation. We will share our development opportunities with the world to achieve mutual benefits. And we will explore more potential of imports to transform China's vast market into a shared global market, injecting new impetus into the world economy.
China is an ancient civilization and a land of propriety and righteousness. The Chinese people value sincerity and good faith. We do not provoke trouble, nor are we intimidated by it. Pressuring and threatening are not the right way in dealing with China. China has taken and will continue to take resolute measures to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and development interests. China-U.S. economic relations should be mutually beneficial and win-win in nature. The United States should go along with the shared aspiration of the peoples of the two countries and the world, and, minding the fundamental interests of the two countries, stop using tariffs as a weapon to suppress China economically and stop undermining the legitimate development rights of the Chinese people.
Economic globalization is the only way to human progress, openness and cooperation are a historical trend. There are no winners in trade or tariff wars, and protectionism is a dead end. China will work with the international community to uphold true multilateralism, jointly oppose all forms of unilateralism and protectionism, and safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core, as well as the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core. China stands ready to strengthen communication and coordination with all countries, including Namibia, to jointly address the headwinds that hinders economic globalization.
Snuffing out others’ candles does not bring light to oneself. I believe that the vast majority of countries in the world, which believe in fairness and justice, will choose to stand on the right side of history.
*Zhao Weiping is the Chinese ambassador to Namibia.**
