The positions of countries on US President Donald Trump’s decisions on customs duties varied, most recently, to increase fees on Chinese imports to 125%, in exchange for the suspension of fees imposed on some other countries for a period of 90 days.
While Australia rejected a Chinese offer in cooperation to confront Trump’s fees, Beijing pledged to take counter measures on the new American fees and fight to the end, at a time when Latin American countries called for the formation of a unified front, while the European Commission and the ASEAN countries chose to wait and consult.
Australia rejects a Chinese offer for cooperation
Australia refused today, Thursday, a proposal from China to work together to face American customs duties, and said that it will instead continue to diversify its trade and reduce its dependence on China, which is its largest commercial partner.
“We will not cooperate with China in any world -taking competition,” Richard Marles, Deputy Prime Minister, told Sky News, referring to the Chinese ambassador’s proposal to work together commercially.
“We will not do that. What we are doing is to seek the national interests of Australia and diversify our trade globally,” he added.
He continued, Australia will enhance the strength of its economy by strengthening trade relations with the European Union, Indonesia, India, Britain and the Middle East.
The Chinese ambassador to Australia urged in an opinion article in a newspaper Canberra to cooperate with Beijing to defend the multilateral world trade system.
“In light of developments, China stands ready to cooperate with Australia and the international community in a joint response to changes in the world,” he said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yscwrvbubo
China: We will fight to the end
China has pledged to take counter measures, after the United States increased its customs duties on Chinese goods to 125%, but urged dialogue to settle mutual files and stabilize relations between the two countries.
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump revealed a new plan to increase fees on Chinese imports to 125%, while the fees imposed on some other countries were suspended for 90 days.
The 84% Chinese customs duties entered into American products today, Thursday, which represents a new stage in the trade war launched by Washington and increases fears of global recession.
The Chinese Minister of Trade said that what is called American counter -fees is a dangerous violation of the legitimate interests of all countries, and added that his country wants to resolve the differences of consultations and negotiating, but if the American side has passed on its way, China will fight to the end.
For his part, an official at the Chinese Ministry of Trade said in a statement yesterday, “I want to confirm that there is no winner in a commercial war, and China does not want it. But the government will not stand idle in any way when it is damaged and violated by the legitimate rights and interests of its people.”
The Chinese official added that the United States’ use of customs definitions as a weapon to exercise the maximum pressure and the pursuit of its own interests is a typical work of unilateralism, protectionism and economic bullying, according to the official Xinhua agency.
He pointed out that his country is ready to communicate with the American side on the main bilateral economic and commercial issues, and to address the interests of each of them by dialogue and consultations on an equal footing.
“If the United States is determined to launch a tariff war or a commercial war, China is ready to fight to the end,” Lin Jian, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, said at a press conference yesterday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clual1tklxc
Latin American countries unite
In Latin America, Brazilian President Lula Da Silva criticized, on Wednesday, the customs duties on American imports, at a summit of Latin American countries, which called for the formation of a unified front against the economic measures taken by Donald Trump.
Were it not for one, from 11 heads of state, they came to Honduras to participate in the meeting of the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean region, which includes 33 members.
“The arbitrary fees destroy the global economy and raise prices,” Lula, head of the largest economy in Latin America, said, adding, “History teaches us that there is no winner in commercial wars.”
On April 5, the United States imposed on its commercial partners a “minimum” of fees by 10%, which is still applied despite its decline on Wednesday from other stronger fees announced last week.
The leaders of the group gathered in Tigusgalba, the capital of Honduras, stressed the importance of the goal unit in these unstable economic times.
“We cannot proceed alone, while the world is reorganizing itself,” said the head of the host state, Sheyomara Castro, “adding that” the United States is re -drawing its economic map without asking about the peoples who will fail to knee. “
For her part, the President of Mexico, Claudia Shinbom, said that these “times are witnessing deep changes in international trade.”
“Today more than ever, it is the time to admit that Latin America and the Caribbean region need joint solidarity and solidarity between its governments and its peoples,” she added.
For his part, the Colombian President Gustavo Petro said that the members of the group “help the other one … let’s not fall into the trap of solving problems individually.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-u7elbzcgo
The Assyan Association .. No revenge procedures
For their part, the ministers of the Economy of the Association of Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) pledged on Thursday to “not impose reprisals” against the United States because of the American customs duties, stressing their willingness to engage in talks.
The ministers said that the retaliatory response will not be useful because the United States is the largest source of foreign direct investment for ASEAN and the second largest trading partner in 2024.
ASEAN ministers said in a statement issued after a video meeting that the Assyrian “Asian as the fifth largest economy in the world is deeply concerned about the unilateral customs duties imposed by the United States recently, including which was announced on April 2, 2025, and then suspended on April 9, 2025”.
Despite their concern, the ministers confirmed their readiness to “enter into an explicit and constructive dialogue with the United States to address trade concerns.”
The countries of the association, which the United States adopts a major export market, was one of the countries that were severely affected by the customs duties imposed by US President Donald Trump.
European Commission consults
For its part, the European Commission announced today, Thursday, that it will take the time required to evaluate the Trump announcement, on Wednesday, the suspension of customs duties.
The Commission said in a statement today, Thursday, “The European Commission will take the time necessary to evaluate this latest development, in close consultation with the member states and the industry sector, before making a decision on the following steps.”
