China warns of retaliation against U.S. allies in trade standoff
Finance leaders from around the world are gathering in Washington this week for the semi-annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group.

Meanwhile, China has issued a strong warning, declaring it would retaliate against any country that aligns with the United States’ efforts to isolate Beijing, as the trade war between the two global economic superpowers deepens and begins to drag in other nations, CNBC reports.

This year’s discussions are expected to be dominated by one pressing issue: tariffs.

On April 2, Trump announced tariffs of at least 10 per cent on all goods entering the U.S., affecting over 50 countries, including Nigeria, China, the United Kingdom and Canada.

Some tariffs have reached as high as 50 per cent, with China’s rates recently increased from 104 per cent to 125 per cent. These measures have sparked widespread concern among global leaders, who are now seeking ways to minimise the economic fallout.

The meetings, which include high-level talks and one-on-one negotiations, provide a platform for finance ministers to broker deals on project financing, foreign investment, and debt relief.

However, the spotlight this year is on how countries can mitigate the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping import tariffs, which disrupted global trade since his return to the White House in January 2025.

Senior Director of the Atlantic Council’s GeoEconomics Centre, Josh Lipsky, described the situation as unprecedented. “Trade wars will dominate the week, as will the bilateral negotiations that nearly every country is trying to pursue in some way, shape, or form,” Lipsky said.

“This becomes a Spring Meetings unlike any others, dominated by one single issue.”

The tariffs have already cast a shadow over the IMF’s economic forecasts, set to be released today.

IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, has warned of “notable markdowns but not recession,” citing heightened uncertainty and market volatility caused by the trade turmoil.

While Georgieva noted that the global economy continues to function well, she cautioned that negative perceptions could slow economic activity.

CHINA’S warning comes amid escalating trade tensions, with Washington increasing tariffs on Chinese goods to 145 per cent, while granting a temporary 90-day reprieve to some other trading partners.

In a statement, China’s Ministry of Commerce said, “China firmly opposes any party reaching a deal at the expense of China’s interests. If this happens, China will not accept it and will resolutely take reciprocal counter-measures.”

The ministry cautioned that such geopolitical trade moves risk pushing the global trading system into chaos, warning of a return to the “law of the jungle,” where power dynamics override fair trade practices and multilateral cooperation.

Beijing portrayed itself as a defender of global economic stability, accusing the U.S. of “abusing tariffs” and engaging in “unilateral bullying.”

The statement also reaffirmed China’s willingness to collaborate with other nations and uphold international trade norms and multilateral agreements.