Chinese President Xi Jinping urges EU to resist US tariffs, says must resist 'unilateral bullying'
PTC Web Desk: In his first remarks after the United States imposed harsh new tariffs on Chinese products, Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on the European Union (EU) to stand together with China against what he described as "unilateral bullying."
While meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in Beijing on Friday, Xi emphasized the importance of closer cooperation between China and the EU, especially during the ongoing trade conflict with the US. According to China's official news agency Xinhua, Xi said, “China and Europe should fulfill their international duties and jointly resist unilateral bullying practices.” He added that this unity is necessary not only to protect their own interests but also to uphold fairness and justice at the global level.
Following his discussion with Xi, Sánchez held a press conference where he acknowledged the trade gap between China and the EU. “Both Spain and Europe have a significant trade deficit with China that we must work to fix,” he said. However, he stressed that trade tensions should not block future cooperation, saying, “We must not let trade tensions stop the growth of relations between China and Spain, or between China and the EU.”
Xi’s appeal came just one day after the US government announced a dramatic increase in tariffs on Chinese imports. US President Donald Trump declared a 125% hike in duties on Chinese goods on Wednesday, which was later clarified by the White House as being in addition to a 20% tariff that was already in place earlier this year. This brings the total additional tariff burden on Chinese goods to 145%.
The US government has claimed the new tariffs are linked to China’s alleged involvement in the global fentanyl supply chain. Defending the decision, President Trump told his cabinet, “We’re very, very happy with the way the country’s running. We’re trying to get the world to treat us fairly.” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also backed the move, describing it as a “calculated play” and warned China not to retaliate: “Do not retaliate, and you will be rewarded.”
China, however, has responded strongly. On Thursday, it imposed 84% duties on US goods. Refusing to engage in talks for now, Beijing has promised to “fight to the end.” At the same time, China has begun reaching out to other global partners in an effort to form a united response to the US.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has contacted the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), while Chinese Premier Li Qiang has increased dialogue with European leaders. Earlier this week, Li spoke with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Xinhua described the conversation as sending a “positive message to the outside world.”
Li also met with various business leaders, reassuring them that China is ready for any challenges. He said the government had “already made a full evaluation and is prepared to deal with all kinds of uncertainties,” and promised to introduce new policies based on how the situation evolves.
- With inputs from agencies
