China says it opposes tariffs being used as a tool of coercion by Trump

BEIJING: China opposes tariffs being used as a tool to coerce others, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Monday, after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened an extra 10% tariffs on countries aligning themselves with the BRICS group of developing nations.

The use of tariffs serves no one, said Mao Ning, spokesperson of the ministry, at a regular press conference.

The original BRICS group gathered leaders from Brazil, Russia, India and China at its first summit in 2009. The bloc later added South Africa and last year included Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates as members.