China calls on the United States to stop politicizing and weaponizing economic and trade issues.

[MegynKelly]

China has emphasized the need for a more positive approach to bilateral relations and urged the US to stop politicizing and weaponizing trade and economic problems. This call coincides with increased tensions between the two countries, especially after President Donald Trump recently imposed a 10% tariff on all imports from China. Citing worries about China's involvement in supply chain for synthetic opioids tariffs were introduced under International Emergency Economic Powers Act IEEPA and went into effect on 4 February 2025.

China retaliated against these levies by imposing up to 15% taxes on a number of American goods, including machinery and coal-liquefied natural gas. Along with tightening export controls on vital minerals China also added American companies to its list of unreliable companies and launched an antitrust investigation against Google. These activities demonstrate China's efforts to criticize US trade policy while demonstrating a willingness to engagement.

Ongoing trade disputes between the US and China are a reflection of a broader trend of strategic rivalry and economic strife. Maintaining a stable trading relationship is important to both nations but they also have difficulties resolving issues like trade imbalances and market access related to intellectual property rights. America has voiced reservations about economic policies of China which it considers unfair including subsidies and state led industrial strategies. China meanwhile contends that the United States is undermining international trade standards and stability by using economic instruments as a political weapon.

There are worries about possible escalation of trade restrictions and their effects on stability of the world economy as these tensions persist. According to Fitch Ratings in line with Trump's assertive trade policies additional escalation of America-China trade restrictions is anticipated in 2025. Despite these obstacles both nations understand how critical it is to keep lines of communication open in order to resolve issues and stop their economic relationship from getting worse. The call from China to depoliticize trade issues reflects a desire to return to a more collaborative framework where economic cooperation can be pursued without the influence of political tensions.