Statement from commerce ministry criticises ‘selfish’ countries that make any trade deals with the US that harm China

China has warned it will take “resolute and reciprocal” countermeasures against other countries negotiating with the US if they make a deal at China’s expense during the trade war.

China’s commerce ministry was responding to recent news reports that Donald Trump planned to pressure other countries to limit their trade with China in return for tariff exemptions. Beijing and the US are locked in an escalating trade war, running separately to the US’s efforts to rewrite trade deals with the rest of the world.

“China firmly opposes any party reaching a deal at the expense of China’s interests,” the ministry said on Monday.