China’s Commerce Minister, Wang Wentao, has stated that the success of both China and the U.S. presents opportunities rather than threats, as the two nations share extensive common interests and broad cooperation space. Wang made these remarks during a news conference on the sidelines of the Third Session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) on Thursday in Beijing.
Addressing China’s strategy in responding to U.S. tariff increments on Chinese goods, Wang emphasized that trade wars have no winners and that protectionism leads nowhere.
“These practices of extortion with the threat of tariffs are typical of unilateralism and seriously disrupt and undermine normal China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation, and disrupt the stability in global industrial supply chains, impeding the development of the world economy,” he said.
Wang asserted that coercion, intimidation, and extortion will not work on China, given its firm resolve to uphold and safeguard its own interests.
“As for the unilateral tariffs imposed by the U.S., we have already taken necessary response measures in accordance with basic principles governing international law and the relevant laws and regulations,” he added.
The minister highlighted that China has always believed in the mutual benefits of China-U.S. economic ties, where one side does not suffer losses while the other gains. He recalled that in 2024, China-U.S. trade amounted to $688.2 billion, an 18% increase from 2017.
Citing the China Business Climate Survey Report 2025, Wang noted that 46% of respondent companies planned to increase investment in 2025, with the same percentage expecting to gain significant profits.
“Chinese corporations have the fundamental interests of the two countries that meet the expectations of the international community. As committed countries with different national realities, it is normal for us to have differences in economy and trade,” Wang said.
He expressed hope that the U.S. would work with China with respect, peaceful cooperation, and in-house dialogue to push for healthy, stable, and sustainable development of China-U.S. economic ties.
