By Eva Richardson | The Logistic News
April 17, 2025
In an escalating response to the United States’ recent wave of tariff hikes, China has announced plans to convene an informal session of the United Nations Security Council on April 23. The meeting will aim to publicly denounce what Beijing describes as “economic coercion” and the weaponization of trade policy by the U.S., framing it as a threat to global peace, fair competition, and multilateral cooperation.
“Unilateral trade bullying cannot be allowed to reshape the rules-based global order,” said a spokesperson from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement issued late Wednesday.
Tariff Tensions Boil Over
The move comes just days after the White House imposed tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese goods, ranging from electronics and medical supplies to rare earth materials. Beijing responded with a retaliatory tariff of 125% on a wide array of U.S. exports, including agricultural products and advanced manufacturing components.
While both governments have previously clashed over trade in the World Trade Organization (WTO), this marks one of the rare instances in which economic grievances are being elevated to the U.N. Security Council, traditionally reserved for military conflicts and international peacekeeping mandates.
A Shift in Global Trade Diplomacy
Experts view China’s move as symbolic but strategically timed. By placing the dispute on the U.N. agenda, Beijing seeks to internationalize the narrative—presenting itself as a defender of multilateralism and economic stability, while framing Washington as an instigator of protectionism and global instability.
“This is China’s way of saying: if the U.S. plays hardball economically, we’ll raise the stakes diplomatically,” said Dr. Ingrid Morales, senior fellow at the Geneva Institute for Trade Policy.
Potential Implications
Although informal U.N. Security Council sessions carry no binding power, they serve as influential platforms for shaping international opinion. Delegates from developing economies in particular are expected to echo China’s concerns, as many rely heavily on predictable trade access to both the Chinese and American markets.
Meanwhile, U.S. representatives have dismissed the initiative as “political theater” and have reaffirmed their stance that the new tariffs are necessary to address structural imbalances and national security vulnerabilities in supply chains.
“The U.S. will continue to prioritize fair trade and secure supply networks over appeasing global critics,” a senior U.S. trade official said anonymously.
Conclusion
As the global trade order faces renewed stress, the U.N. is set to become an unlikely stage for economic confrontation. China’s upcoming Security Council session highlights the growing fusion of geopolitics and global commerce, where diplomacy and tariffs collide—not behind closed doors, but in the full view of the world.
Eva Richardson is a senior correspondent at The Logistic News. She covers international policy, economic diplomacy, and global trade tensions.
