The escalation of the trade war between the US and China, which in the last days - limited only to the maritime-port sector - has led Beijing to take retaliatory measures against ships similar to those that Washington had introduced against Chinese ships and to which the administration led by Donald Trump also added measures against cranes and other means of product handling in China ( of 18 April, 10 and 13 October 2025), is being expanded to the partner countries of the two Contenders.

Today a spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce in Beijing said reiterated that "US measures are typical actions unilateralist and protectionist structures" and which represent "a serious violation of WTO rules and the principle of equality and reciprocity of the Transport Agreement between China and the United States". US measures - ha underlined the spokesman - "guarantee the companies of shipping and shipbuilding of the countries concerned an advantage unfair competitive practices, constitute discriminatory practices in the shipping, shipbuilding and other Chinese industries and seriously damage the interests of the Chinese industries concerned". "The US measures - added - not only do they affect the stability of the supply global chain and significantly increase the costs of trade international level, but will also increase inflation in the Member States Together, they will undermine the competitiveness of ports and employment and will have an impact on security and resilience of the U.S. supply chain itself."

Recalling the countermeasures taken by Beijing to safeguard the interests of Chinese industries affected by the measures The spokesman for the Department of Commerce warned that "China's position on essential issues is clear and consistent: if there is a struggle, we will fight to the end end; If there is a negotiation, the door is open. The China urges the United States to correct its own wrong practices, to cooperate with China and to resolve mutual issues interest through equal dialogue and consultation".

In addition to inviting the United States to confrontation and dialogue, the Chinese ministry has announced that it will apply countermeasures also against five US subsidiaries of the group South Korean shipwrecker Hanwha Ocean Co. Recalling that today "the The United States has begun to implement the final measures of the their Section 301 survey of maritime sectors, logistics and shipbuilding' and that 'this seriously violates international law and fundamental standards that regulate international relations and seriously damages the rights and legitimate interests of Chinese companies', the spokesman for the Ministry explained that "the branches Hanwha Ocean assisted and supported the government in carrying out investigations under Section 301 and in the adoption of measures against the maritime, logistics and and Chinese shipbuilding. China - specified the spokesman - expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to this initiative. To safeguard its sovereignty, security and interests and in accordance with the Sanctions Act of the People's Republic of China and other laws and regulations and with the approval of the National Mechanism for the Coordination of Foreign Sanctions, China has decided to add five U.S. subsidiaries of Hanwha Ocean Co. to the list of countermeasures, prohibiting organisations and individuals within the China territory to undertake transactions and cooperate with them'.