China has issued a strong warning against escalating trade tensions with the United States after President-elect Donald Trump vowed to impose significant tariffs on goods from China and other countries. Trump’s proposed tariffs are a response to concerns over illegal drug trade and immigration, with a particular focus on China's role in the fentanyl smuggling issue.

Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in the United States, reiterated that China views US-China economic and trade cooperation as mutually beneficial. In response to Trump's recent statements on Truth Social, where he threatened to place tariffs, including a 10 percent duty on Chinese goods, Liu emphasized China’s efforts to tackle fentanyl trafficking. Liu also rejected accusations that China is complicit in the fentanyl crisis, asserting that China is actively addressing the issue.

Trump's plan to impose broad tariffs on China and other trading partners aligns with his previous economic promises, aimed at addressing trade imbalances and challenging China's trade practices. In response to questions on whether China had reached out for talks, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning stated that Beijing is open to dialogue and communication. However, Liu’s statement made clear that China strongly disagrees with claims of its involvement in fentanyl smuggling.