China’s demand for “respect” in trade talks stems from escalating tensions with the US, as President Trump imposed a 34% tariff on Chinese goods, prompting Beijing to retaliate with matching tariffs and export controls on critical minerals (South China Morning Post, 2025-04-08).
The trade war intensified after Trump threatened a 50% tariff hike if China didn’t withdraw its retaliatory measures, leading to a 145% levy on Chinese imports, severely impacting global markets like the Shanghai Composite Index (CNN Politics, 2025-04-14).
Xi Jinping warned of “no winners” in this trade conflict, signaling China’s readiness to endure economic pressure, a stance backed by its 125% tariffs on US imports, highlighting a deepening economic standoff (Newsweek, 2025-04-11).
