China calls UN to denounce Trump and isolate US fees

Amid the climb of the United States and China trade war, the Chinese government called on April 23 an informal UN Security Council meeting to denounce what it classifies as “acts of intimidation and unilateralism” by Washington.

The initiative marks another step of Beijing’s diplomatic strategy to internationally isolate the White House’s tariff policy and to project itself as a defender of multilateralism and global economic stability.

The meeting, open to all 193 United Nations Member States, will have as its theme “The impact of unilateralism and intimidation practices on international relations.” In the concept released by the Chinese delegation, the United States is accused of using tariffs as an “extreme pressure instrument” in the flagrant violation of international trade rules.

According to the document, the practice would be “throwing a shadow over global efforts for peace and development.”

Chinese diplomatic offensive occurs after President Donald Trump’s imposition of tariffs that total up to 145% on China imports – a number that rises to 245% if the rates prior to the current management is included.

In retaliation, Beijing announced 125% tariffs on US goods and began to strengthen their articulation with global southern countries, which are also affected by Washington’s unilateral tariff barriers.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lin Jian, stated at a news conference that the abuse of US tariffs “causes serious damage to the interests and welfare of all countries.”

He accused the US of ignoring the results of multilateral negotiations by resorting to the rhetoric of “reciprocity and justice” to justify protectionist measures that threaten the multilateral system. “Such unilateral actions create challenges unprecedented to the UN and multilateralism itself,” he said.

In Lin’s assessment, it is essential that the international community use spaces such as the Security Council to deepen the debate on the consequences of economic unilateralism, strengthen the role of the UN and protect rights to the legitimate development of all countries.

He added that the April 23 meeting will be an opportunity to “build consensus against protectionism and reaffirm the principles of the United Nations Charter.”

The context also includes strengthening the group of friends in defense of the UN letter, which brings together countries such as China, Russia, Venezuela, Iran and Laos. In a joint note released this week, the group condemned the use of fares as a political instrument and accused the US of promoting unilateral and coercive actions to subjugate other countries. For the Chinese government, this type of articulation reflects the growing arrangement of the global southern to collectively resist external pressures considered unfair.

Although the United States has not yet officially pronounced on Beijing’s meeting, diplomatic sources heard by the US press indicates concern for the loss of support from intermediate countries.

About 70 nations would have started negotiations with Washington to escape tariffs, but the American strategy of isolating China faces resistance in countries that are also target of protectionist measures.

In parallel, the impact of commercial tensions already worries international organizations. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) warned that global economic growth could fall to 2.3% in 2025.

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was even more emphatic, predicting a possible contraction of up to 7% of global GDP if the world economy fragments in rival blocks. For Beijing, the current scenario requires a coordinated response from the international community in defense of free trade, multilateral cooperation and common development.