China is to hold an informal meeting of the United Nations Security Council next week to condemn the United States for bullying and “casting a shadow over the global efforts for peace and development” by weaponizing tariffs.
The summit, set for next Wednesday, will witness Beijing condemning the US for its heavy-handed imposition of tariffs with all 193 UN member nations invited, reports Reuters. China has been calling for global support for its stand on defending multilateralism and trying to counter US protectionism.
The action is taken as Beijing seeks a tough line in a growing trade war with Washington ignited by U.S. President Donald Trump’s deep cuts in tariffs on goods brought in from China.
“This refers to the position of all countries, especially developing countries, as victims of unilateralism and bullying practice,”
is stated in the concept note for the informal U.N. session on “the impact of unilateralism and bullying practices on international relations.” The note, calling for the participation of all 193 U.N. members at the April 23 session, particularly condemns the United States for the imposition of tariffs.
“By weaponizing tariffs as an instrument of extreme pressure, the U.S. has seriously breached global trade norms, and caused sharp shocks and turbulence in the world economy and multilateral trading system, casting a shadow over the global efforts for peace and development,” the concept note read.
The U.N. Trade and Development agency announced on Wednesday that the global economic growth may fall to 2.3% as trade tensions and uncertainty propel a recessionary trend.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian indicated that Beijing would employ different international forums, such as the UN, to speak about “the dangers of unilateralism and bullying”, and further stated that they “posed unprecedented difficulties and challenges to the United Nations and multilateralism”.
Following the imposition of tariffs on most of the globe at the beginning of this month, Donald Trump then declared a 90-day moratorium for most of the targets – but continued piling additional levies onto Beijing as part of an intensifying tit-for-tat between the world’s two biggest economies.
US officials have stated about 70 nations are trying to negotiate and that the White House is going to utilize this 90-day window to attempt to economically isolate China, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the discussions.
