China’s Minister of Commerce, Wang Wentao, has raised concerns about the escalating tariff regime of the United States, cautioning that such measures could severely impact developing countries. Speaking during a phone call with the Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Wentao criticized the US’s continued imposition of tariffs, describing them as a destabilizing force in the global economy.
Wentao emphasized that these tariffs introduce considerable uncertainty and risk, particularly for the least developed nations, and warned of potential humanitarian consequences. “These US ‘reciprocal tariffs’ will inflict serious harm on developing countries,” he noted, according to a statement from China’s Ministry of Commerce.
This warning comes amidst escalating trade tensions between the US and China. Beijing announced that its 125% retaliatory tariffs on US goods took effect yesterday, following Washington’s earlier imposition of 145% levies on Chinese imports. The tit-for-tat exchange has stirred volatility across global markets, triggered investor anxiety, and caused significant swings in currencies, bonds, and commodity prices.
Despite the turbulence, WTO Director General Okonjo-Iweala remains hopeful. Speaking at the African Heritage Concert & Awards 2025 in Marrakesh, she said, “I see opportunities in this crisis,” expressing optimism that global trade can emerge more resilient from current disruptions.
Meanwhile, the US administration, in a partial rollback, has issued exemptions to its latest tariffs, notably for electronics such as smartphones and computer hardware. This move is seen as a concession to protect American tech giants like Apple, which depend on Chinese manufacturing. Analysts say the exemption could safeguard the momentum of the ongoing AI and tech boom.
In a related development, Taiwan has opened initial tariff talks with the US to shield its own exporters from impending levies, signaling a broader recalibration in global trade alignments.
