China says the US is playing a zero-sum game

JOHANNESBURG - China’s foreign affairs ministry says the United States is playing a zero-sum game, warning that pressure and threats are not the right approach to take when dealing with the Chinese.

This follows US President Donald Trump’s announcement of sweeping tariffs on goods imported into his country from the rest of the world.

Trump’s move is aimed at boosting the US economy.

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And while all imports will pay a minimum of 10%, several other countries, including South Africa were slapped with much higher tariffs.

China, a major US trading partner, will now face levies of up to 54%.

As asian markets plummet, Donald Trump is insisting his tariff plans are like medicine, which must be taken in order to make one better.

But the Chinese, like several other countries, have not taken well to the high levies they now face.

China’s foreign ministry – in a statement released today – says this is a typical act of unilateralism, protectionism and economic bullying.

It condemned the move, saying it disrupts the global economic order.

Beijing also says Trump has severely violated the World Trade Organisation’s rules and undermined the rules-based multilateral trading system.

Adding that the us is playing a zero-sum game in pursuit of American exceptionalism and putting America first.

It says all of this has been done under the guise of reciprocity and fairness.

China’s calling on the world to embrace real fairness and reject America’s power play.