China issues travel warning to US, citing safety concerns
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The move came shortly after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Tuesday that the United States would begin imposing a 104% tariff on Chinese goods starting Wednesday.
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Parents and teachers watch as students enter a school for the annual national college entrance exam also known as Gaokao as it rains in Beijing, Friday, June 7, 2024 (AP)
Amid intensifying trade disputes and rising diplomatic strain, China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism issued a travel advisory on Wednesday, urging citizens to carefully evaluate the risks before visiting the United States.
The warning follows a sharp deterioration in bilateral relations, marked by aggressive economic measures initiated by the US. In its official statement, the ministry cited the "deterioration of China-US trade and economic relations, as well as the domestic security situation in the US" as the basis for its caution. "The Ministry of Culture and Tourism reminds Chinese tourists of the need to fully assess the risks of traveling to the US and to travel with caution," it said.
The move came shortly after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Tuesday that the United States would begin imposing a 104% tariff on Chinese goods starting Wednesday. The tariff hike was triggered by Beijing's refusal to roll back its recently implemented countermeasures—namely, a 34% tariff on all US imports, set to take effect April 10.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order introducing a new tariff structure that applies a baseline 10% rate on imports from trade partners, with each final rate calibrated to half the tariff those countries impose on US goods. China, in particular, has been a primary target of this policy, prompting swift and forceful reactions from Beijing.
In addition to tariffs, China has expanded its economic response by placing seven rare earth minerals under export control and blacklisting 11 American companies under its "unreliable entities" framework. Beijing also filed a formal complaint with the World Trade Organization, challenging the legality of Washington's tariff hikes.
Read more: China files WTO complaint over latest US tariffs
The situation has also begun affecting other sectors, including education and tourism. Chinese travelers and students have long contributed significantly to the US economy—Chinese tourists alone spent an estimated $20.2 billion in the US in 2023. Deteriorating ties could have lasting implications for these exchanges.
