China’s Wang Yi Criticizes U.S. Tariff Strategy at BRICS Meeting

The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, speaking at a BRICS assembly, called out the United States for using tariffs as leverage in trade negotiations. He suggested silence or compromise would embolden such strategies. Wang Yi said, “The U.S., which has long benefited enormously from free trade, is now going so far as to use tariffs as a bargaining chip to demand exorbitant prices from all countries. If one chooses to remain silent, compromise and cower, it will only make the bully want to push his luck more” [1][3].

Wang Yi’s statements focus on the negative impacts of U.S. policies, urging countries to stand firm. His longstanding role as China’s Foreign Minister has involved significant interaction with international trade dynamics.

These comments might escalate U.S.-China trade tensions, influencing market fluctuations. Historically, such geopolitical issues impact both traditional and digital assets, causing volatility in financial markets. The impact of trade disputes often extends to financial markets, potentially affecting cryptocurrencies like BTC and ETH. Wang Yi’s speech draws attention to possible macroeconomic perturbations.

Previous trade conflicts show a trend where cryptocurrencies gain attention as hedges against currency devaluation. Wang Yi’s remarks may revive similar market behavior, although no explicit reactions are noted yet.