China Urges US to Respect Trade Rules Amid Rising Tariff Tensions

China has called on the United States and related companies to respect facts, follow international trade rules, and stop actions harming Chinese interests, after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 100 per cent tariff on Chinese goods.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said, “China calls on the US as well as companies concerned to respect facts and multilateral trade rules, abide by the principles of market economy and fair competition, correct the wrong approach as soon as possible and stop harming China’s interests.”

The warning comes after China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced sanctions on five U.S.-based subsidiaries of South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean Co. This was in response to the U.S. Section 301 investigation and related measures targeting China’s maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding industries.

According to Order No. 6 of 2025 issued by China’s Ministry of Commerce, the U.S. Section 301 measures “seriously violate international law and the basic norms governing international relations, and gravely undermine the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.” The five companies sanctioned are Hanwha Shipping LLC, Hanwha Philly Shipyard Inc, Hanwha Ocean USA International LLC, Hanwha Shipping Holdings LLC, and HS USA Holdings Corp.

China’s Transport Ministry has launched an investigation into how U.S. Section 301 measures affect the security and development of China’s shipping and shipbuilding sectors, as well as related industrial and supply chains, according to Xinhua.

The statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs comes amid growing trade tensions between the two countries. Both nations have recently introduced new trade restrictions, marking a sharp escalation in their economic dispute.

China has imposed new port fees on U.S. ships arriving at Chinese ports, effective October 14. The fees start at 400 yuan (around USD 56) per net ton and will increase annually over the next three years. Beijing said this move is a direct response to similar charges imposed by the U.S. on Chinese ships, calling Washington’s actions a violation of World Trade Organization rules and the China-U.S. maritime transport agreement.

Earlier, Trump announced that the U.S. would impose an additional 100 per cent tariff on Chinese imports starting November 1, raising total duties on Chinese goods to 130 per cent. Trump also said the U.S. would tighten export controls on key software and technology, accusing China of taking a “hostile” approach in trade relations.

In response, China defended its export controls on rare earth materials as lawful steps to strengthen export management and safeguard national security. The Ministry of Commerce accused the U.S. of “double standards” and abusing export control measures against Chinese firms. It said, “The U.S. side cannot seek talks on one hand while threatening to introduce new restrictive measures on the other.”

Since the recent China-U.S. trade talks in Madrid, Beijing said the U.S. has expanded restrictions by adding more Chinese companies to the Entity List and extending Section 301 measures to the shipbuilding sector. China warned that these actions have “seriously harmed” its interests and damaged the atmosphere for trade negotiations.

The Chinese government urged Washington to “correct its wrong practices” and manage differences through dialogue, emphasizing the need for stable and sustainable relations. The Ministry added that China does not seek a trade war but is prepared to defend its interests