Address by Ambassador Han Jing at the 2nd edition of the IRAZ Diplomats’ Round Table

Dr. Kasuka Mutukwa, former and first Secretary General of the SADC Parliamentary Forum,

Ambassador George Zulu, Chairperson of the Advisory Board of the International Relations Association of Zambia (IRAZ),

Mr Boyd Muleya, Assistant Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation,

Ms. Rosemary Nsepe, President of IRAZ,

Ms. Hope Ngoma, Member of the IRAZ Advisory Board,

Mr. Walter Kasempa, Youth Unite Zambia President and Founder,

Dr. Fredrick Mutesa, Secretary-General of the Zambia-China Friendship Association,

Excellencies and representatives of the diplomatic corps,

Friends from universities, think tanks and media houses,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning!

It is a great pleasure for me to attend the 2nd edition of the IRAZ Diplomats’ Round Table Meeting. Let me begin by thanking IRAZ for the kind invitation and for offering such an interesting platform for candid dialogue.

When I was approached by IRAZ for an address on the theme Securing A Shared Future for Mankind through Diplomacy in the Prevailing Geopolitical Changes, I thought to myself: is there any bigger geopolitical change than the current unilateral tariff war waged by the new US administration, a war we are all forced into, a war that is impacting and could impact adversely every ordinary person in the world? What are the options in front of us if we are to secure that mankind is still able to enjoy a shared future of fairness, justice, security and prosperity?

Everybody in this room must be familiar with how it all started. US President Donald Trump announced on April 2^nd reciprocal tariffs targeting all trade partners, and a week later, he put on a 90-day hold amid negotiations, with the exception of China, while maintaining a baseline 10% tariff rate for most of the countries. His tariff policies have triggered violent turbulence in the global financial markets, arousing widespread concern and even condemnation from the international community. Let me take this opportunity to outline for you China’s position and perspectives by asking three questions.

1. Why is US abuse of tariffs wrong and extremely dangerous?

This question can be answered from three aspects. Firstly, the US is shooting itself in the foot by abuse of tariffs. Let me quote President Xi Jinping that one will not be seen in a more favourable light after blowing out others’ lamp; nor will they go farther by blocking others’ paths. As many discerning US voices have noted, America’s problems stem from within. The approach of treating internal diseases externally and the zero-sum mindset not only fail to cure the illness, but also make oneself more isolated.

Economically, the US tariff war will fuel its own inflation, erode domestic industrial foundations, amplify financial market panic and heighten recession risks. Just this month, US inflation surged to 7.2%, with egg and chicken prices soaring by 34% and 28% year-on-year respectively. Yale University’s Budget Lab predicts that a blanket 20% tariff would cost the average US household $4,200 annually. Goldman Sachs has raised the probability of a US recession within the next 12 months from 35% to 45%.

Former US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen criticized the Trump administration’s trade war as the worst self-inflicted policy wound inflicted on our economy. Dozens of leading economists, including two Nobel laureates, have signed a public declaration warning that US administration’s escalating use of tariffs risks triggering a self-inflicted recession, and that American workers will incur the brunt of these misguided policies in the form of increased prices and the risk of economic contraction.

History has proven and will continue to prove that protectionism and tariff hikes never solve economic woes, nor can they “Make America Great Again.” In 2018, under the banner of “bringing manufacturing back,” the US imposed tariffs on approximately 250 billion worth of Chinese goods. As a result, the US trade deficit not only failed to narrow but continued to expand, causing American consumers to pay approximately 57 billion US dollars more in tariffs each year. Similarly, in the 1930s, under the pretext of “protecting domestic industries”, US introduced the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act to impose tariffs significantly, triggering a global trade war. This not only plunged US into the Great Depression, but also led to an economic disaster worldwide, followed by the World War II.

Secondly, it goes against the irreversible trend of our times. Economic globalization and open cooperation are inevitable in the course of development of mankind. Over the 30 years since the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO), global trade volume has surged more than fivefold from approximately $5 trillion in 1994 to $33 trillion in 2024. Economic globalization has promoted the flow of goods and capital, the progress of science, technology and civilizations, exchanges among peoples, and improvements of people’s well-being at an unprecedented pace. Today’s world has long evolved into a deeply interconnected community where no one exists in isolation.

The US is the largest beneficiary of economic globalization. As the world’s largest economy, the US has long accounted for over 25% of global GDP, while the US dollar, as the dominant international reserve currency, comprises about 60% of global foreign exchange reserves. With these advantages, the US has enjoyed enormous benefits from economic globalization. However, in recent years, it has refused to acknowledge the gains from free trade and no longer lent its support for globalization. By wielding tariffs as a coercive tool, it only showcased a toxic obsession with hegemony, unilateralism and America First policies. Such blatant attack on the multilateral trading systems and total disregard for established rules were never seen before, and such a regression to might-makes-right tactics and the law of the jungle is a clear step backward in history.

Thirdly, it undermines the common interests of the international community. The abuse of tariffs severely infringes upon the legitimate rights and interests of all countries, violates WTO rules, undermines the rules-based multilateral trading system, damages the security and stability of the global industrial and supply chains, disrupts the global economic order and hinders global economic recovery. By taking such an action, the US defies the fundamental laws of economics and market principles, weaponizes tariffs to exert maximum pressure for selfish gains. The so-called reciprocal tariffs are neither reciprocal nor fair, but rather a product of power politics in the economic sphere.

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala noted that the US tariffs could lead to an overall contraction of around 1 percent in global merchandise trade volumes this year. The IMF has issued a stark warning that such tariff policy could reduce global economic growth by 1.5 percentage points by 2025. According to President Trump, many countries were lining up to strike deals with him, which he referred to disrespectfully and arrogantly as “ass-kissing”, a word I am a bit ashamed to even utter as a diplomat. While Washington has temporarily delayed imposing higher tariffs on some partners, this does not alter its underlying agenda of trade blackmail for unilateral advantage.

Please note that despite running a deficit in trade in goods, the US enjoys a huge surplus and dominant advantage in trade in services. Deliberately ignoring this fact, the US has even targeted vulnerable economies designated as the least developed countries by the UN with high tariffs. This will deal an unprecedented heavy blow to poor countries that have simple economic structure and are highly reliant on export, depriving countries, especially the Global South, of their right to development.

Based on this absurd logic that trade surpluses equate to cheating, the US has launched indiscriminate attacks on African countries, even though WTO principles clearly stipulate for special treatment for developing economies. This has already brought collateral damage such as currency devaluation and stock market fluctuations. Growth in major African economies will inevitably slow down, with simple-structured economies suffering severe setbacks. The industrialization process and poverty reduction efforts in Africa may be frustrated.

1. Why must China say “No” to the US abuse of tariffs?

As a Chinese saying goes, those who uphold justice gain wide support, while those who act against it have little. The US reckless and unjust actions are unpopular and will ultimately end in failure. In this imposed tariff war, China stands on the right side of history and the side of fairness and justice, with the confidence and strength to defy and defeat all threats and blackmail.

Domestically, China has the unwavering support of its people, a vast 1.4-billion consumer market and a complete industrial chain, which enables the Chinese economy to sustain on its own. China’s economic growth rate stood at 5.4% in the first quarter of this year. Internationally, if the US puts its own interests over the public good of the international community and sacrifices all countries’ legitimate interests for its own hegemony, it will for sure meet stronger opposition.

By taking necessary countermeasures against US bullying, China not only safeguards its own rights, but also the common interests of the international community, particularly Global South countries, preventing humanity from regressing to a lawless jungle of might-makes-right. Someone must stand up against the bullies, as we understand that bullies do not just leave their targets alone simply because they yield. Heavier price must be paid, and that is not acceptable to China. In reality, China’s firm countermeasures have secured a 90-day window for other countries, alleviated the US tariff shocks to global supply chains, created space for international dialogue and curbed the rampant spread of protectionism.

Again let me stress that China does not provoke trouble but never fears it. China does not wish to fight a stupid trade war or any form of war, but is not afraid to fight if it has to. Pressuring and threatening are the last option one should resort to when dealing with China. China has taken and will continue to take resolute measures to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests. If the US wants to fight, China will fight till the end. If the US wants to talk, the door can be open, but only on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

III. Why must the Global South unite against US abuse of tariffs?

There are no winners in trade or tariff wars. Protectionism is a dead end. In the face of US bullying and coercion, no country can remain unscathed. Compromise and concession offer no way out, unity and collaboration hold the key to a promising future. The international community, particularly the Global South, must unite in self-strengthening, enhance coordination, defend shared interests, uphold true multilateralism, and jointly safeguard the UN-centered international system and the WTO-centered multilateral trading regime. Together, we must advance an equal and orderly multipolar world, promote a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and build a community with a shared future for mankind.

No matter how the international situation changes, as the second largest economy and second largest market for consumer goods, China will continue to advance high-standard opening up, steadily expand institutional opening up in rules, regulations, management and standards, implement high-standard policies for trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, foster a first-class market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment. And China will share development opportunities with the rest of the world to achieve mutual benefits. By leveraging its own growth, we aim to inject certainty to the world economy to counter global uncertainties. Please be assured that China will remain a reliable engine for world economic growth.

For African countries striving for development and revitalization, a free and open multilateral trading system is of vital importance, and a stable and cooperative international environment is indispensable. History has proved that China is a trustworthy and predictable friend and partner of African countries. In sharp contrast to the current trade war, at the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit, China announced unilateral market opening, giving all LDCs having diplomatic relations with China, including 33 countries in Africa, zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines. This has made China the first major developing country and the first major economy to take such a step, turning its vast market into Africa’s vast opportunity.

The year 2025 will witness real efforts to implement the outcomes of the 2024 FOCAC Beijing Summit. Take Zambia for example. China-Zambia cooperation in agriculture, mining, infrastructure, green energy, health care, education and other fields is flourishing, and the TAZARA revitalization project has made substantial progress. China stands ready to work with Zambia to implement the consensus reached by the Heads of State, to deliver on the Ten Partnership Actions for China and Africa to jointly advance modernization, including supporting Zambia in accelerating its industrialization and agricultural modernization, implementing zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines, fostering new growth drivers such as digital, green and AI industries, and executing more China-aid projects in food security, water supply, health care, among other areas.  

The China-Zambia Comprehensive Strategic and Cooperative Partnership is built on mutual trust and win-win cooperation, and so should all other state-to-state relations. To the Chinese, a promise is a promise. We remember our commitment to this Continent, and we have always aimed for an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.

To conclude, I wish the 2nd edition of the IRAZ Diplomats’ Round Table Meeting a complete success. Thank you for listening.