China comes out in support of India against Trump’s tariffs, calls for Beijing-New Delhi ‘teamwork’ to stand up against ‘bully’ US

The US has imposed a whopping 50 per cent tariff on the import of select Indian goods. This includes a trade tariff of 25 per cent and an additional penalty of 25 per cent for buying Russian oil.

China’s top diplomat in New Delhi on Thursday voiced strong support for India after the United States imposed steep tariffs on Indian goods. He called for “teamwork” and closer cooperation between India and China,  the world’s two most populous nations, to stand up to what he described as a “bully.” “US imposed tariffs of up to 50 per cent on India. China firmly opposes it. Silence only emboldens the bully. China will firmly stand with India, uphold the multilateral trading system,” Ambassador Xu Feihong said.

He criticized Washington for using tariffs as a tool to pressure other countries, saying that the US had once gained heavily from free trade but now uses such tactics to demand unfair advantages.

“US has long benefited greatly from free trade but now uses tariffs as bargain chips to demand exorbitant prices from various countries. The US imposed tariffs of up to 50 per cent on India, and has even threatened for more. China firmly opposes it. In the face of such acts, silence only emboldens the bully. China will firmly stand with India to uphold the multilateral trading system with the world trade,” he said.

The ambassador made these remarks at the SCO Summit 2025: Resetting India-China Ties, an event hosted by the Chintan Research Foundation, a think tank based in New Delhi.

What did Xu Feihong say on India-China trade?

Xu Feihong said the world is undergoing major changes, and in such times, India and China should work together and strengthen their cooperation. “The friendship between China and India benefits all of Asia. We are like two engines driving economic growth in the region. Our unity is not just good for Asia but for the entire world,” the ambassador said.

He stressed that both countries have a shared responsibility to help maintain global stability. “India and China must take the lead in building a fairer and more balanced multipolar world,” Xu added.

On trade, the envoy said that China is open to more Indian products entering its market and urged both sides to build trust and reduce suspicion. “India and China are partners, not rivals. We should handle our differences through dialogue,” he said.

Highlighting areas of opportunity, Xu noted that India is strong in sectors like IT, software, and biomedicine, while China is rapidly expanding in electronics manufacturing, infrastructure, and new energy. “By working together, both countries can grow faster and create more opportunities for their people,” he said.

Why is China supporting India against US tariffs?

This rare show of support from China comes at a time when global trade tensions are running high due to US President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff policies targeting both India and China.

On Thursday, Peter Navarro, a senior trade adviser at the White House, criticized India, calling it the “maharaja” of tariffs and accusing it of getting “too close” to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Earlier this month, the US slapped a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods after five rounds of trade talks failed. Washington had been demanding full market access in sensitive sectors like agriculture and dairy. Sources familiar with the negotiations said New Delhi had offered zero tariffs for American goods in several sectors but wanted the same treatment for Indian exports.

Soon after, Trump announced another 25 per cent tariff, this time on India’s imports of Russian oil. Responding to the move, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Thursday that he was “perplexed” by the reasoning behind these tariffs.

HIGHLIGHTS

1. China’s top diploma voiced strong support for India after the United States imposed steep tariffs on Indian goods.
2. He criticized Washington for using tariffs as a tool to pressure other countries, saying that the US had once gained heavily from free trade.
3. Xu Feihong said the world is undergoing major changes, and in such times, India and China should work together and strengthen their cooperation.
4. The envoy said that China is open to more Indian products entering its market and urged both sides to build trust and reduce suspicion.