…AS China vows retaliation against countries aligning with US

By Nkiruka Nnorom with agency report

African nations, including Nigeria may face growing pressure amid escalating global tensions, following a stark warning from China that it will retaliate against countries colluding with the US to restrict trade against Beijing as the trade war between the world’s two largest economies rages.

The threat comes as the U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is reportedly planning to use tariff negotiations to pressure U.S. partners to limit their dealings with China.

Trump, this month, paused major tariff increases on other countries for 90 days, while hiking duties further on goods from China to 145 percent.

In a shift toward a harder stance, China retaliated against U.S. tariffs with levies of 125 percent on imports of American goods. Beijing has also restricted critical minerals exports and put several, mostly smaller, U.S. companies on blacklists that restrict their ability to work with Chinese companies.

In a statement, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said: “China firmly opposes any party reaching a deal at the expense of China’s interests. If this happens, China will not accept it and will resolutely take reciprocal countermeasures.”

The ministry cautioned about the risk to all countries once international trade returns to the “law of the jungle.”

The statement also stated that China was willing to work with all parties and “defend international fairness and justice,” while describing the U.S. actions as “abusing tariffs and unilateral bullying.”

This development puts African countries in a delicate position as they weigh the benefits of diversifying trade partnerships against the risk of straining ties with Beijing, a long-standing economic partner.

With both superpowers vying for influence, Africa finds itself once again at the center of a global power struggle.

President Trump has recently intensified the heat of his trade war with China, accusing Beijing of failing to reciprocate in the ongoing tariff exchanges between both countries.

According to Trump, China has consistently taken advantage of U.S. trade policies while refusing to offer fair or balanced terms in return.

He described China as a “manipulative and ungrateful trading partner,” accusing it of exploiting global trade systems, undermining American industries, and using economic leverage to influence vulnerable nations.
African leaders at a crossroads

African nations have found themselves entangled in the renewed trade war between the U.S. and China, following Washington’s tariff announcement on “Liberation Day.”

The tariffs hit African countries hard, ranging from 10 percent for nations like Kenya, Ethiopia, and Ghana, to to 31 percent for South Africa and 50 percent for Lesotho.

In response, some countries, including Lesotho and Zimbabwe, have welcomed opportunities for trade talks with the U.S. to mitigate the fallout.

Facing debt, inflation, and post-pandemic recovery, many African governments see American offers as a chance to diversify trade and reduce dependence on China.

Trump-era tariffs have cast doubt on the future of one major policy that benefited African nations, the AGOA Trade Act.
, which granted duty-free access to sub-Saharan exports.

Analysts are unsure if it would be restored under Trump’s administration.
However, Beijing’s warning against deals “at the expense of China’s interests” has complicated these decisions.