China on Monday issued a warning to other countries, urging them not to strike trade agreements with the United States that could be detrimental to Beijing.

Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea are among the countries that have initiated trade talks with Washington following President Donald Trump’s April 2 announcement of sweeping tariffs targeting nearly all U.S. trading partners. Although the new tariffs were temporarily suspended for most countries amid market turbulence, the U.S. raised its already high duties on Chinese imports.

“China firmly opposes any party reaching a deal at the expense of China’s interests,” the Chinese Commerce Ministry said in a statement. “If this happens, China will never accept it and will resolutely take countermeasures in a reciprocal manner. China is determined and capable of safeguarding its own rights and interests.”

Earlier this month, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged the countries negotiating trade agreements with Washington to “approach China as a group” alongside the United States.

China's Commerce Ministry criticized the U.S. tariffs on other countries as a form of economic bullying, according to a statement attributed to an unnamed spokesperson.

“Appeasement cannot bring peace, and compromise cannot win respect,” the statement read. “For one’s own temporary selfish interests, sacrificing the interests of others in exchange for so-called exemptions is like seeking the skin from a tiger. It will ultimately only fail on both ends and harm others without benefiting themselves.”

Beijing said it remains open to dialogue with Washington, though no talks have been scheduled.

Trump has targeted China with the steepest trade measures, imposing multiple rounds of tariffs that amount to a combined 145% duty on Chinese goods. China has responded with its own tariffs, totaling 125% on American imports.

The tariff exchanges have unnerved exporters, delayed shipments, and raised concerns about broader global economic fallout.