As the customs tax dispute escalates, China accuses the US of 'economic bullying.'

Beijing has begun implementing countermeasures, including export restrictions on rare earth minerals and the suspension of imports of certain U.S. agricultural products, in line with a 34% customs duty rate.

China accused Washington of economic bullying, protectionism, and unilateralism after the imposition of tariffs on goods imported from China. Beijing also called on American companies, including Tesla, to take "concrete steps" to help resolve the dispute. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian stated to reporters that the Trump administration's "America First" approach has harmed global production, supply chains, and economic recovery. These statements came after U.S. President Donald Trump announced last week that he would impose an additional 34% customs duty on Chinese goods following a 10% tariff in February and March. Trump linked the new measures to China's alleged role in the fentanyl crisis. The tariffs caused Asian stocks to fall to their lowest levels in years on Monday. The benchmark Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong closed down 13.22% after dropping as much as 13.74% during intra-day trading. The Shanghai Composite Index fell by more than 8%, while Japan's Nikkei index closed down 7.8%. Beijing responded by imposing a 34% rate on certain U.S. goods and announcing a series of countermeasures. These included suspending imports of sorghum, poultry, and bone meal from some American companies, introducing new export controls on rare earth minerals, and filing a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization (WTO). On Monday, the Communist Party's official newspaper, People's Daily, claimed: "The sky will not fall," Lin said, adding, "We know what to do when faced with the random punches of U.S. tariffs, and we have the tools." Lin did not comment on whether Chinese President Xi Jinping would meet with Trump to mediate an agreement and directed questions to other government departments. "Pressure and threats are not the way to deal with China. China will firmly protect its legitimate rights and interests," he said. Over the weekend, Chinese officials met with representatives from Tesla, GE Healthcare, and other American companies. Deputy Minister of Commerce Ling Ji stated that the responsibility for the current trade tensions lies with the U.S. "The root of the tariff issue is in the U.S.," Ling continued, "We hope American companies will address the problem fundamentally, provide reasonable explanations, take concrete steps, and work together to maintain the stability of the global supply chain." Ling also reiterated that China is open to foreign investment and assured that investing in China is safe.