China has announced that it will maintain its retaliatory tariffs and export controls in response to the 20% tariff imposed by the Donald Trump administration in the United States in February and March of this year, which was justified on the grounds of fentanyl-related concerns.
On May 14, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated during a briefing, "The United States has unjustifiably raised tariffs on China twice using fentanyl as a pretext, and China responded both times with immediate countermeasures, including tariff and non-tariff actions, to defend its legitimate rights and interests. These countermeasures remain in effect," he said.
Previously, on May 12, the United States and China reached an agreement in Geneva, Switzerland, to reduce tariffs. According to a joint statement, both countries agreed to cancel 91 percentage points of the additional tariffs imposed on each other's imports in April, and to defer 24 percentage points for 90 days. As a result, China's additional tariff rate on U.S. goods was reduced to 10%, while the U.S. additional tariff rate on Chinese goods now totals 30%, comprised of a 10% reciprocal tariff and a 20% fentanyl-related tariff.
In February, after the United States imposed a 10% tariff on Chinese imports, China retaliated by imposing a 15% tariff on U.S. coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG), a 10% tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery, large-displacement vehicles, and pickup trucks, and by implementing export controls on tungsten, tellurium, bismuth, molybdenum, indium, and other materials.
Subsequently, in March, President Trump added another 10% tariff, stipulating that it would remain until the issue of fentanyl flowing into the United States was resolved or significantly improved. In response, China imposed an additional 10-15% tariff on U.S. agricultural and livestock products and implemented export control sanctions on certain U.S. companies regarding strategic materials.
Lin Jian's remarks indicate that, despite the tariff war truce, the retaliatory measures China took in February and March are not subject to removal. He added, "China has repeatedly stated that fentanyl is an American problem, not a Chinese one, and that the responsibility lies with the United States itself. If the United States truly wishes to cooperate with China, it should stop slandering and shifting blame onto China, and instead engage in dialogue with China based on equality, respect, and mutual benefit."
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