China responds to Trump's 'additional 10% tariff' remark: 'BRICS does not target any country, no winner in tariff wars'

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning

China has rebutted US President Donald Trump’s remark on an ‘additional 10 percent’ for any countries aligning with BRICS. In a press conference in Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that BRICS “does not target any country.”

Lauding the economic bloc that has some of the biggest emerging economies as its members, Mao Ning called BRICS “an important platform for cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries; it advocates openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation.”

She also said that protectionism will lead the world nowhere. When asked if the US decides to introduce more levies on China, the foreign ministry spokesperson said, “As for tariffs, we have always opposed tariff wars and trade wars, and opposed using tariffs as a tool of coercion and pressure. Imposing tariffs arbitrarily is not in the interests of any party.”

China’s remarks come as world economies look to work around the July 9 deadline. Earlier in the day, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had announced that the nation-specific tariff schedule will come into effect from August 1. Many see this as a sort of extension to give room for negotiations with Washington. Additionally, Trump has said that 15 countries will be getting his ‘take it or leave it offer’ starting 9:30 pm IST.