‘Unilateral and Protectionist Act’: 10 major marks from China’s white paper on Trump’s tariff

The United States-China Tariff War reached a new high position, where Tusrap The administration has applied a total of 104 percent after slapping 34 percent of Beijing’s 34 percent. And it seems that it is going to be a never -ending story (at least for now) as China again added new tariffs to all American products.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that they would impose 84% tariffs on all US products from April 10. It came a few hours after the release of a white paper.
China on Wednesday published a white paper “a white paper on some issues related to China-US economic and business relations”, which since 2018 criticizes the US for a tariff of more than USD 500 billion on Chinese exports, describes it as “unilateral and protectionism” that disrupts international trade cooperation.
The document states that trade stress has greatly obstructed regular economic cooperation between the two countries, as reported by Xinhua.
Here are some of the major points:
1. China’s MFN violates the status World trade organization Rule
In April 2025, the White House released the US’s first trade policy executive summary, reviewing legislative efforts to cancel China’s Permanent General Trade Relations (PNTR) status.
PNTR, which provides the most preferred nation (MFN) treatment, is central for China-US economic relations since 2001. Any step to withdraw it is seen as unilateral, conservationist action that violates the WTO rules and disrupts multilateral trade structure.
The World Trade Organization MFN makes the status compulsory as a main principle, and previous American functions have been considered non-non-transportation by WTO panels since Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods. The cancellation of China’s PNTR will make bilateral trade significantly unstable, affecting areas such as investment, technology and services. It can also divide global economic structures. China opposes such unilateralism and confirms supports for the WTO-centered trading system. It urges the US to maintain its commitments and work collaboratively to maintain its commitments and protect the integrity of global trade and maintain economic stability.
2. American generalization of national security concept hinders China-American economic and trade cooperation
In the white paper, China said that the US has rapidly implicated economic issues in the form of national security threats, which implements business and investment restrictions targeting its country. These include export restrictions, punishment and strict investment screening, which have disrupted bilateral trade operations.
According to a survey by the September 2024 US-China Business Council, American companies in China face increasing challenges due to measures taken by the US. In January 2025, trade restrictions have expanded with new rules, with Chinese -made vehicles targeted and a safety review in Chinese drones. Officials cited trade deficit and security risks to justify action against Chinese technology and telecom firms.
On the investment front, the US strengthened the committee on foreign investment in the United States (CFIUS) and implemented outbound investment sanctions in January 2025, targeting China’s semiconductor, quantum and AI areas. The 1st February memorandum proposed to expand these restrictions for biotech and aerospace. These measures increase compliance costs, obstruct bilateral economic cooperation, and endanger global supply chains and trade stability.
3. American misuse of export control destabilizes the global supply chain
The US has expanded its national security scope and using export sanctions using export sanctions as political equipment. Since 2022, it has tightened the measures targeting semiconductor and AI regions of China, which affects circuits, software and manufacturing. They harm developing countries and disrupt technological development. Under the human rights pretex, several Chinese firms were approved despite the lack of evidence. These functions led to financial loss and global supply chain instability. The opaque American clearance process, depending on the vague norms, complicates the removal. The semiconductor sanctions imposed in 2023-2024 have affected 24 tool categories. Nvidia warned of innovation failures with $ 130 billion in US losses.
4. Section 301 tariff measures are a prime example of unilateralism
Section 301 tariff actions implemented by the United States simulates discriminatory business practices and economic separatism. These measures obstruct the international commerce structure and destabilize the global production network, while the US trade imbalances fail to address or increase its industrial abilities. Additionally, these tariffs have increased costs for American businesses and consumers through high import prices. Instead of preventing the current Section 301 investigation, the United States has established another investigation into the alleged non-market activities in China.
5. US Section 232 Investigation weakens multilateral trade rules
Since 2017, the US has rapidly used Section 232 investigation as a conservationist trade tool under the guise of national security. Between 2017 and 2021, it began eight such investigations, which target products such as steel, aluminum and auto. In 2018, despite the Pentagon objections, the US imposed 25% and 10% tariffs on steel and aluminum respectively. These measures serve as a leverage in business talks – including tariffs on Canada and Mexico, only after NAFTA Renaissance, and converting South Korea’s tariff into quota after auto concessions. A similar strategy was used with the European Union. Such action misuses national security exceptions, violates WTO rules such as MFN treatment and tariff binding, and distorting global trade. In 2025, the US increased these measures, expanded tariffs and started a new section 232 investigation on copper, wood and other important items under its “USA First” policy.
6. American misuse of trade remedies adds global uncertainty
The “US First Trade Policy” pushes strict anti-dumping and anti-subsidy regulations, including checking transnational subsidies and reviving “zeroing”, out of which WTO rules are violated. In 2024, the US changed the rules to allow a transfer subsidy investigation, refuting both WTO and US laws, requiring subsidy within the same country. The “zero” inflats the dumping margin and illegally ruled against the US in all 25 WTO cases. These tricks eradicate trade stability and increase global stress.
7. US uses phentinel on the pretext of implementing restrictive economic and trade measures on China
In early 2025, the US twice raised tariffs on Chinese goods and abolished the D Minimis duty exemption, creating fantanel concerns – unable to the facts. China has controlled Phantenile exports in 2023, with no shipment for North America, and has collaborated with US authorities since 2019. The US argument is weak to eliminate D minimis discount; The policy enhances business efficiency, supports small businesses, and aligns with WTO criteria. China’s own balanced policies and platforms like Tmall, Alibaba promoted global trade.
8. “Reciprocal tariff” will backfire on us
On April 2, 2025, the US imposed 34% tariffs on Chinese goods, followed by a 50% increase in vengeance of China’s counterers. This aggressive growth endangens global economic stability and reverses the years of multilateral progression. Tariffs will not correct American issues – they disrupt fuel inflation, supply chains and burden domestic industries. Yale and Peterson institute data shows face rising costs in homes, while markets fall. Experts now estimate a decline of 1% in US GDP and global trade, deepening the risk of recession.
9. China and America can solve differences through equal-legged dialogues
As the world’s two largest economies, China and American share deep, comprehensive economic and trade relations by incorporating many stakeholders. Given the scale of this relationship, some differences are natural. The most creative way of managing them is through the discovery of equal dialogues and mutually beneficial cooperation. Strengthening China-US cooperation not only fulfills the basic interests of both people, but also bears important implications for global peace, economic stability and sustainable development.
10. The world estimates China-US cooperation to generate more development opportunities
China and America are the central pillars of the global economy, along with the contribution of more than one third of the global GDP and about a quarter of the world’s population. His business has about 20% global trade flow. As the top two consumer markets, they play an important role in global supply chains – exporting raw materials, arbitration production and services – global value increases chain efficiency. Standing China-American economic relations benefit both nations but to the world on a large scale.
To strengthen global economic rule, China and America can jointly promote rules that reflect today’s productivity trends. Platforms such as WTO and regional trade agreements are important. Despite different views on the ideal governance model, focus should be on concentrated dialogue and improvement, not defects or resistance. Working together, the two sides can help develop a more effective multilateral system.