China said there are no winners in trade wars as it reacted to U.S. President Donald Trump’s new and rising import tariffs on softwood lumber, upholstered furniture, and kitchen cabinets and vanities.
Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, told a regular press briefing on Tuesday that “there are no winners in tariff or trade wars, and protectionism leads nowhere,” according to a paraphrasing of his remarks by state-run Global Times.
A day before, Trump referenced China in a post on Truth Social about new furniture tariffs
“In order to make North Carolina, which has completely lost its furniture business to China, and other Countries, GREAT again, I will be imposing substantial Tariffs on any Country that does not make its furniture in the United States,” Trump said.
The White House later said Trump had signed a proclamation that imposes a 10 percent global tariff on imports of softwood lumber.
He also imposed a 25 percent global tariff on certain upholstered furniture, rising to 30 percent on January 1, 2026.
And Trump imposed a 25 percent global tariff on kitchen cabinets and vanities, which will increase to 50 percent on January 1.
However, the U.K., European Union (EU), and Japan, which have reached trade deals with the Trump administration, will receive lower preferential rates.
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.