BEIJING — On Sunday, the Chinese government criticized the Trump administration’s recent decision to implement a 10% tariff on imports from China, while still leaving open the possibility for discussions to prevent increasing tensions.

Beijing plans to contest President Donald Trump’s tariff at the World Trade Organization (WTO)—an action seen as largely symbolic—and will also introduce unspecified “countermeasures” in response to the tariff, which is scheduled to begin on Tuesday. This stance reflects a less aggressive approach compared to the more confrontational tactics seen during Trump’s first term as president and aligns with the measured tone China has maintained in recent weeks.

On Saturday, Trump announced 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, in addition to the 10% imposed on Chinese goods, claiming that China must curb the flow of fentanyl, a dangerous opioid, into the U.S. In contrast to the stronger reactions from Canada and Mexico, both of whom are traditional U.S. allies, China’s response was notably subdued.

The Chinese commerce ministry released a statement declaring that Trump’s action “seriously violates” established international trade protocols and called on the U.S. to “engage in frank dialogue and enhance cooperation.”

Challenging the tariffs through the WTO could allow China to present a stronger case for maintaining a rules-based trading system, a principle that has historically been promoted by U.S. administrations from both parties. China has already taken similar steps in response to the European Union’s tariffs of up to 45% on Chinese electric vehicles.

However, an appeal to the WTO carries no immediate repercussions for Washington at this time.

Since 2019, the WTO’s dispute resolution mechanism has been effectively stalled due to Trump’s obstruction of judicial appointments to the appeals body. Since President Obama’s administration, the U.S. has criticized the WTO for overstepping its jurisdiction.

‘America’s Problem’

For several weeks, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning has asserted that a trade war produces no winners.

Chinese officials have expressed optimism, noting that Trump may be aiming for a more nuanced engagement with China, following recent discussions he had with Xi Jinping, the Chinese leader, last month.

Both major political parties in the U.S. now view China as the most significant foreign policy and economic challenge facing the nation.

China’s substantial trade surplus, which approached $1 trillion last year, presents a potential risk for the country. Exports in critical sectors such as automobiles have increased more in quantity than value, indicating that manufacturers may be lowering prices to capture sales abroad while domestic demand has been sluggish.

This has led analysts to suggest that China might seek an early agreement with Trump to mitigate the impact of U.S. trade actions.

In anticipation of the tariffs, China has spent months enhancing relationships with its allies, fostering self-reliance in important technology sectors, and allocating resources to support a fragile economy.

China’s economy, now the second-largest in the world, achieved its official growth target of 5% last year, despite widespread concerns regarding decreasing job opportunities and declining living standards.

China’s strongest rebuttal was regarding the issue of fentanyl, an area where the Biden administration has also pressed Beijing for stricter controls on the export of precursor chemicals essential for manufacturing the drug.

“Fentanyl is America’s problem,” the Chinese foreign ministry emphasized. “China has undertaken extensive anti-narcotics cooperation with the United States and achieved commendable results.”