China Claims ‘Market Has Spoken’ as $500B Wiped From Asian Stocks Amid Trump Tariff Panic

Chinese officials delivered a defiant response to the global market selloff triggered by former President Trump’s proposed tariffs, framing the plunge as proof of international opposition to U.S. trade policies.
Key Developments:
- Market Carnage:
- Shanghai Composite fell 3.4% (worst day in 2025)
- Hang Seng dropped 4.1%
- Japanese and Korean markets down 3-5%
- Chinese Response:
- Commerce Ministry: “Markets reject reckless protectionism”
- State media labels Trump “economic arsonist”
- PBOC hints at “stabilization measures”
Economic Fallout:
- $220B in Chinese market cap erased
- Yuan hits 2025 low (7.32/USD)
- Semiconductor stocks hardest hit (SMIC -12%)
Expert Analysis:
“The rhetoric suggests China won’t back down and may accelerate decoupling,” said Eurasia Group’s China analyst.