By Michelle Nichols
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – China and the United States accused each other of unfair trade practices at an informal United Nations Security Council meeting on Wednesday, seeking to portray each other as global bullies amid their escalating trade war.
China convened the meeting on “the impact of unilateralism and bullying practices on international relations” as it pursues a hardline stance against Washington after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on items imported from China.
Trump has also imposed a blanket 10% tariff on all other U.S. imports and higher duties on steel, aluminum and autos, a move that China’s U.N. Ambassador Fu Cong said puts “U.S. interests above the common good of the international community.”
“We cannot allow things to be dictated by whoever has a bigger fist,” Fu said. “Bullying the weak, threats and coercion, and imposing one’s will on others will not win popular support, and will ultimately backfire.”
The United States dismissed China’s meeting as a “performative maneuver” lacking substance or credibility. U.S. diplomat Ting Wu accused China of using unilateral unfair trade practices that hurt market economies around the world.
“China claims to be a developing country, while it simultaneously weaponizes its donor status and development projects to bully developing Member States,” she said. “No more. President Trump is resetting the trade environment so that China can no longer take advantage.” (This story has been refiled to add the dropped word ‘meeting’ in paragraph 1)
(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Sandra Maler)
