China has approached several countries to counter U.S. tariffs, particularly in response to the escalating trade measures under the Trump administration in 2025. While Australia faced its own tariff battles with China and thus isn’t a primary partner in this specific context, China has sought alliances elsewhere to mitigate the impact of U.S. trade policies. Based on available data up to April 10, 2025, here’s who China has approached, excluding Australia:
- Japan and South Korea
- China has engaged Japan and South Korea, both U.S. allies, to coordinate a joint response to Trump’s tariffs. Posts on X and reports suggest that following Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcement on April 2, 2025—which imposed a 34% reciprocal tariff on Chinese goods on top of existing 20% duties (effective April 9)—these three nations met to discuss mutual trade strategies. Japan faced a 24% tariff and South Korea 25%, prompting talks about deepening trilateral trade to offset U.S. pressure. Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba even considered negotiating directly with Washington, but the trio’s discussions signal a regional alignment against U.S. protectionism.
- Vietnam
- Vietnam has emerged as a key partner, with China leveraging it as a conduit to evade U.S. tariffs since at least 2018. In 2025, Vietnam’s deputy prime minister planned a U.S. visit to negotiate trade terms, but China also invited Xi Jinping to meet Vietnamese and European leaders to discuss tariff countermeasures, per X posts. Vietnam, hit with a steep 46% U.S. tariff, has been a middleman for Chinese goods rerouted to the U.S., a tactic noted by The Economist. This partnership aims to maintain China’s export flow despite U.S. barriers.
- European Union (EU)
- China has reached out to the EU, which faced a 20% U.S. tariff, to explore common cause. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signaled readiness for negotiations with the U.S. but also prepared countermeasures, aligning with China’s call for dialogue over trade war escalation. Harvard’s Rana Mitter noted in a 2024 Gazette interview that U.S. tariffs on multiple allies could push China to strengthen ties with the EU, UK, and Japan, a strategy evident in 2025 as China condemned Trump’s “unilateral bullying” and urged collective resistance.
- Canada and Mexico
- Though initially targeted by Trump’s February 2025 25% tariffs over fentanyl and border issues, Canada and Mexico secured a 30-day pause after negotiations. China approached them indirectly, capitalizing on their retaliatory stances—Canada imposed 25% tariffs on U.S. goods, and Mexico planned countermeasures by April 6. China’s measured response to its own 10% tariff hike in February (escalated to 20% in March) included talks with these North American neighbors, aiming to align against broader U.S. tariff expansions, per Reuters and CBS News.
- Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
- Beyond Vietnam, China has leaned on ASEAN countries like Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Thailand. Malaysia (24% U.S. tariff) and Indonesia (32%) have been used to funnel Chinese goods, a tactic intensified post-2025 tariffs. Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim called for a coordinated ASEAN response, while Indonesia opted for diplomacy over retaliation, both moves aligning with China’s strategy to bolster regional trade networks, as reported by Bloomberg and Business Insider.
- Latin American Countries
- China has eyed Latin America, with Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro suggesting in a 2025 TIME interview that Trump’s tariffs could open opportunities for Colombian exports to replace Asian goods. China’s commerce ministry signaled plans to trade more with Latin America, the Middle East, and developing nations, per PBS News, positioning countries like Brazil (10% U.S. tariff, with a reciprocity bill passed) as potential allies.
Context and Strategy
China’s approach isn’t just about direct tariff retaliation—its 34% counter-tariff on U.S. goods started April 10, 2025—but about building a coalition to dilute U.S. economic leverage. Xi Jinping’s “dual circulation” policy, emphasized in Atlantic Council analyses, aims to reduce reliance on U.S. markets while binding allies through trade. Posts on X highlight China’s adaptability, using countries like Vietnam as tariff workarounds and courting Japan, South Korea, and the EU for strategic heft. This aligns with a 2023 U.S. State Department report noting China’s multi-billion-dollar influence campaigns, now pivoting to practical trade alliances.
These efforts reflect China’s preparation for Trump’s tariff regime, which by April 2025 raised U.S. average tariff rates to levels unseen since the 1930s, per Tax Foundation estimates. The full scope of these partnerships is still unfolding, but China’s outreach is clear: diversify trade, counter U.S. isolation, and exploit global discontent with American protectionism.