China’s Top Diplomat Wang Yi Calls for Unity Against U.S. Tariff Bullying at BRICS Meeting
China’s top diplomat Wang Yi urged countries to unite against U.S. tariff bullying at the BRICS summit, stating that compromise and concession would only embolden the “bully.” He called on emerging market countries to stand together, indicating Beijing’s readiness to adopt a firmer stance on trade issues.
(Background: Will U.S.-China tariff negotiations reach a conclusion? Trump: ### initiated a call, and 200 trade agreements have been reached.)
(Context: Trump announces a significant reduction in tariffs on China, pledges not to dismiss Powell, Bitcoin approaches $94,000, and U.S. stocks surge.)
According to Bloomberg, as the Trump administration hinted at possibly using new trade tools to pressure Beijing, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi issued one of the strongest responses to date. On Monday (April 28), at the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Wang directly criticized the U.S., calling it a “bully,” and warned other nations that appeasement would only allow the bully to gain further ground.
Wang stated that the U.S., as the biggest winner in international trade due to its dollar dominance, has intensified its bullying of other countries through tariffs. He urged the emerging market nations present to unite and collectively counter U.S. tariff measures. He also responded on behalf of China, stating that China intends not only to firmly resist pressure from the United States but also to reject trade negotiations under coercion, while striving to build an international united front against U.S. unilateralism and protectionism:
“Choosing silence, compromise, and timidity will only allow the bully to gain further ground and escalate the situation.”
Continued Resistance Against De-Dollarization by BRICS
Reports suggest that Wang’s remarks aim to position China as a defender of global free trade against the potential restructuring of global business patterns due to U.S. tariff policies. Beijing has repeatedly urged its allies to support multilateralism and warned other governments not to strike deals with U.S. President Trump that harm China’s interests for their own benefit.
In the past, China has frequently utilized the BRICS framework to voice “anti-dollar” sentiments, urging countries like India and Brazil to establish trade settlement systems that do not rely on the dollar. Discussions have even included the potential for a unified BRICS trade currency, with mentions of blockchain technology as a means to break free from dollar dependency. However, at last year’s meeting, Putin indicated a temporary halt to discussions on a unified currency. While it may seem that countries have paused further de-dollarization efforts due to national interests, China’s call may reignite discussions on de-dollarization in light of Trump’s tariffs.
Increased U.S. Pressure: Hints of New Tools and Export Bans
In response to China’s remarks, the Trump administration recently hinted at potentially using new trade tools to compel Beijing back to the negotiating table. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent even specified that Washington might prohibit the export of certain specific goods to China as a means of gaining leverage in negotiations.
In an interview with CNBC on Monday, Bessent stated that the U.S. holds an “escalation ladder,” but is “eager to avoid using it,” reflecting the current administration’s desire to bring China back to the negotiating table. He cited reports that China recently exempted certain U.S. goods, including medical equipment, aircraft leasing, and at least eight types of semiconductor-related products, from 125% retaliatory tariffs, indicating Beijing’s desire to de-escalate the situation.
“We have not escalated the situation through an embargo on these goods or by imposing trade bans. However, if we need to gain more leverage, we can do so.”
China’s Response: Absolutely Not Submitting
In the face of U.S. pressure, in addition to Wang’s firm statements, the Chinese Foreign Ministry also released a video titled “Not Kneeling!” on Tuesday, vowing that Beijing would not yield and stating that this is for the benefit of the world. The voiceover in the video declares, “China will not kneel. Because we know that standing up for ourselves can keep the hope of cooperation alive, while compromise will kill it.”
Despite its strong stance, China has not completely closed the door to dialogue but has set clear preconditions. China has expressed a willingness to support normal business cooperation between the two largest economies in the world, but it must be based on “equality and mutual respect.”
However, regarding the negotiation window, both sides seem to be talking past each other. Recently, Trump has repeatedly claimed that China has proactively reached out to them, but the Chinese government has clearly denied that any trade negotiations are currently taking place with the U.S., hoping that the U.S. can meet preconditions before negotiations, including curbing derogatory remarks from Cabinet members, taking a more consistent stance, addressing China’s concerns (such as sanctions and Taiwan issues), and designating authorized negotiators.
Dylan Loh, an assistant professor at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, believes that China’s actions reflect an exploration of the best path for negotiating with the U.S. While firmly maintaining its position and seeking international support, China is also observing the next steps from the U.S. and preparing for future negotiations under more favorable conditions. More importantly, they are trying to form an alliance to counter the U.S.
“They want to show determination because they believe that appearing weak plays into the hands of the U.S… This does not mean they do not want to reach an agreement or create opportunities to ease tensions.”
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