US President Donald Trump announced that any country doing business with Iran will face a 25 percent tariff on all trade with the US, effective immediately. The announcement was made via social media and framed as a response to ongoing anti-government protests in Iran.
The announcement comes amid lengthy US sanctions on Iran, which have been in place for years and target a wide range of economic activity.
China warns against escalation tariffs
In a prompt response, China criticized the proposed measure. Mao Ning, a spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry, said Beijing's stance on tariffs is "consistent and clear," reiterating that tariff wars have no winners.
She added that China will firmly defend its legitimate rights and interests. China is widely seen as one of Iran's closest economic and political partners.
Allies are monitoring the situation
Other major US trading partners have reacted more cautiously. Japan and South Korea, which have trade agreements with the United States, said they were closely monitoring the situation.
Officials in both countries indicated they would respond accordingly once the scope and practical implications of the U.S. announcement become clearer, according to a Reuters report.
