China Slams U.S. Tariffs, Rejects Blame for Fentanyl Crisis

China has strongly criticized the Trump administration's new 10% tariff on Chinese imports, vowing to challenge the move at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and take countermeasures. The tariffs, set to take effect Tuesday, are part of broader U.S. trade actions that also include 25% duties on Canadian and Mexican imports.

Beijing's response, issued by the finance and commerce ministries, avoided immediate escalation but reaffirmed its opposition. China’s commerce ministry accused the U.S. of violating international trade rules and urged Washington to engage in dialogue. While challenging the tariffs at the WTO would be largely symbolic, China has used similar legal action against EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.

Trump justified the tariffs by linking them to China's alleged role in the fentanyl crisis, claiming Beijing must curb the flow of precursor chemicals used to manufacture the deadly opioid. However, China's foreign ministry rejected this claim, stating that fentanyl is "America’s problem" and emphasizing its past anti-narcotics cooperation with the U.S.

For weeks, Chinese officials have warned that trade wars have no winners, signaling a preference for diplomacy. The latest tariffs revive tensions between the world’s two largest economies, threatening to destabilize global markets.

With both sides maintaining firm stances, the possibility of renewed negotiations remains uncertain.