Threats and pressures are not the right way to negotiate with China, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday after describing US President Donald Trump’s “mutual duties” as intimidation.

“This is a classic case of unilateral, protectionism and economic bullying,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lynn Zian, said at a press conference, adding that US duties in the name of reciprocity serve only their own interests.

“The abuse of duties by the United States is equivalent to the deprivation of countries, especially those of the world south, from their right to growth,” Lin said, citing the expanding gap between the rich and the poor in every country and the less developed countries.

“All countries should support consultation, common building and sharing and ‘genuine polymers’ approach,’ he said.

Last week, Trump introduced additional 34% duties to Chinese products as part of the high contributions imposed on most US trade partners, raising total duties in China this year to 54%. China retaliated with a series of countermeasures.