Chinese business lobby opposes Trump’s proposed tariffs, calls US trade probe unfair: Report

China’s top trade promotion body has voiced opposition to the Trump administration’s latest tariff proposal, arguing that the planned duties unfairly target trading partners and undermine the global trading system.

The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) said the Chinese business community was “strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed” to the proposed additional tariffs on Chinese exports, according to comments carried by state broadcaster CCTV on Thursday.

The response comes after the United States proposed fresh tariffs of 10 per cent or 12.5 per cent on imports from 60 economies following a Section 301 investigation into alleged failures by trading partners to curb the trade of goods linked to forced labour.

The proposed measures mark the latest escalation in trade tensions between Washington and several of its key trading partners. The Trump administration has argued that stronger trade penalties are necessary to discourage the flow of products suspected of being produced through forced labour practices.

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However, China and other affected economies have rejected the allegations and criticised the proposed duties as unilateral and inconsistent with international trade norms.

According to CCTV, the CCPIT said the tariff measures apply “US domestic standards and unilateral rules” to other economies and deviate from the principles governing the multilateral trading system.

The council warned that the move could further strain global trade relations at a time when businesses are already grappling with geopolitical uncertainty and supply chain disruptions.

Calling for a more cooperative approach, the CCPIT urged Washington to “stop generalising and abusing trade restriction measures” and instead resolve economic and trade disagreements through dialogue and consultation.

The Chinese business group also appealed to the United States to work jointly with trading partners to maintain the stability of global industrial and supply chains, which have faced repeated shocks in recent years from geopolitical conflicts, trade disputes and shifting industrial policies.

The latest tariff proposal is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to tighten trade enforcement and address concerns about labour standards in international supply chains. The proposed duties would affect imports from dozens of economies and could trigger fresh disputes at a time when global trade is already facing mounting headwinds.