China Responds to U.S. Tariff Hike with Retaliation, Global Outreach, and Domestic Focus:

After the White House announced an astonishing 245 percent tariff on Chinese imports, Beijing refuted the assertion as being inconsequential and lacking credibility. China’s Ministry of Commerce described the figures as “meaningless number games,” projecting no signs of capitulating after a week of intensified trade hostilities between the two nations.

Bolder Statement From Beijing

For now, the Chinese have crafted a united front after taking forceful steps politically. Officials have voiced the claim that they will not surrender under duress. Drawing from past leaders, including Mao Zedong, Chinese spokesmen spotlight domestic determination. The state-run media also follow suit and proclaim that U.S. goods are becoming less significant. They note that between 2018 and 2024, China’s exports to the US dropped from 19.2% to 14.7%. This demonstrates a reduced dependence on the American economy.

Moderate Tightening of Policies On The Other Side

Beijing has now hiked the ‘retaliation’ tariffs on American goods to 125 percent. They claim that at this point, the American products are sufficiently non-competitive requiring no further increases. Other measures adopted include:

• Filing a case with the WTO

• Designating American businesses as “unreliable entities”

• Halting purchases of Boeing jets

• Implementing export restrictions on some rare earth materials

These steps aim to muster economic pressure on Washington while maintaining room for maneuver for Beijing’s counter-response.

Openness to Negotiate with Preconditions

China is still open to negotiations, albeit under the condition of equal altitude and framework. President Trump prefers to speak to Xi Jiang directly, while officials on the Chinese side prefer a more gradual approach with a designated step-by-step lead negotiator. This way, there can be comprehensive planning before any high-level decisions.

Offensive Diplomacy Apart from the U.S

China is also focusing on tertiary trade partners outside the U.S. Commerce Minister Wang Wentao has spoken with his counterparts from EU, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia. The European Union talk kali l involves China negotiating over pricing controls on their electric vehicles to preempt future EU tariffs.

President Xi Jinping’s more recent trips to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia have focused on fostering global supply chain collaboration as well as balancing economic interests on both ends of the superpower’s spectrum. Using the US as the pivot, Chinese diplomats keep describing American policies to international partners as erratic yet self-serving.

Worries of Stardom Impact

Beijing is still attentive on the bold rhetoric though now coupled with a tighter focus on maintaining order domestally. The fact that the export sector alone account for almost one fifth of the nations workforce at 180 million is bound to cause social strife if sudden change occurs. The Chinese government is thus responding by encouraging business to:

- Build presence in new international regions
- Stimulate internal consumption

Although there has not been a clear policy direction yet.