China condemns U.S. hegemony, unilateral tariffs

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Monday that the United States is practicing hegemony under the guise of imposing so-called reciprocal tariffs, warning that such actions will inevitably face widespread opposition from the international community.

Speaking at a regular news briefing in Beijing, Lin said that Washington is sacrificing the legitimate interests of other countries for its own benefit, and placing "America First" above international rules. "This is a typical act of unilateralism, protectionism and economic bullying," he said.

Lin further noted that the U.S.' imposition of tariffs with differentiated rates violate the WTO's non-discrimination principle, seriously disrupts the normal international economic and trade order and the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains.

"It also severely damages the multilateral trading system, hinders the recovery of the world economy and will inevitably face widespread opposition from the international community," he said.

Noting that development is a universal right of all countries instead of the patent of a few, Lin said all countries should uphold true multilateralism, jointly oppose all forms of unilateralism and protectionism and work to maintain the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core.