China has denounced the latest set of U.S. tariffs announced on Friday as “economic bullying,” while several Asian allies expressed disappointment at the new duties that range from 10% to 12.5%.
Beijing’s measured response
State media criticized the forced‑labour Section 301 tariffs, saying they violate the principle of multilateral trade. Yet the Chinese government has stopped short of announcing retaliatory measures, a decision analysts link to President Xi Jinping’s upcoming summit with President Donald Trump later this month. Maintaining market access appears to outweigh the urge for a tit‑for‑tat response.
The administration imposed a 12.5% levy on Chinese imports, citing alleged lax enforcement of forced‑labour rules concerning the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang. Beijing dismissed the accusations as unfounded.
Although the increase from a temporary 10% global tariff is modest compared with earlier spikes, the move still adds pressure on Chinese exporters. The United States has also applied the same rate to about 60 other countries, prompting a broader backlash.
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Allies voice regret
Japan and South Korea lodged formal complaints, saying the tariffs could breach existing bilateral agreements. Tokyo specifically asked for assurances that the duties do not contravene trade pacts signed with Washington.
Singapore and Australia followed suit, labeling the measures “unjustified.” Canberra argued the tariffs conflict with free‑trade agreements it maintains with the United States, while Singapore’s officials noted a lack of factual basis for the forced‑labour penalty.
Thailand’s government downplayed the impact, noting the increase is relatively small and that neighboring Vietnam also faces that rate. The electronics and electrical equipment sector in Southeast Asia could feel the most strain, given that roughly a third of Thai and Malaysian exports in this category head to the United States.
More than 2,000 export items from ASEAN are exempt from the new levy, and advanced computing chips from Taiwan remain subject to a separate 15% tariff under Section 232, according to trade experts.
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In a broader context, the United States has revived its tariff strategy after a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year knocked down a batch of previous duties. The new measures are designed to withstand legal challenges, officials said.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer warned that the United States has enforced forced‑labour bans for decades and expects trading partners to do the same.
Countries that have already instituted forced‑labour prohibitions, such as Canada, the European Union, India and the United Kingdom, received the lower rate. The EU, Japan, South Korea and Switzerland were granted relief consistent with earlier trade commitments.
Overall, the latest tariffs highlight the tension between Washington’s enforcement agenda and the desire of trading partners to preserve stable economic relations.
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