Thu Apr 17 05:22:44 UTC 2025: ## China Dismisses Trump-Era Tariffs as “Numbers Game” Amidst Global Trade Concerns

**Beijing, China** – China has dismissed the latest round of potential US tariffs on Chinese goods, calling President Trump’s escalating trade war a meaningless “numbers game.” The White House recently revealed that Chinese exports could face duties as high as 245 percent, a figure encompassing existing tariffs and those potentially levied under national security reviews.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs echoed earlier statements from the Ministry of Finance, which labeled the tariffs a “joke” due to their perceived lack of economic impact. While China currently imposes a 125 percent tariff on some US goods, it has also employed non-tariff retaliatory measures, including restrictions on Hollywood film releases.

Economists warn that the escalating tariffs, if left unchecked, could effectively halt most trade between the US and China. This sentiment is supported by the World Trade Organization (WTO), which forecasts a 0.2 percent decline in global trade volume by 2025 under current conditions – significantly lower than projections under a low-tariff scenario. The WTO further suggests that the ripple effects of these tariffs could lead to an even steeper 1.5 percent decline in global goods trade, disproportionately impacting export-dependent developing nations.

The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has also lowered its global growth forecast for 2025 from 2.5 percent to 2.3 percent, citing the risk of a global recession if growth remains below 2.5 percent. The escalating trade tensions between the US and China continue to cast a long shadow over the global economy.

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