Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, has described the ongoing U.S.-China trade conflict as a “crisis laden with opportunities” for strengthening China-Nigeria economic relations.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Yu called on the international community to unite against what he called “U.S. economic bullying,” while urging Nigeria to seize new export and investment openings created by shifting global trade dynamics.

“The imposition of tariffs by the U.S. really provides a kind of opportunity for China and Nigeria to deepen our cooperation,” Yu said, highlighting that China remains the largest global market.

Yu cited agriculture as a key frontier, noting that China and Nigeria signed an agreement last year on peanut exports, with talks ongoing for similar deals involving soybeans and aquatic products.

“We would also like to have Nigerian oil exports to China because currently, it’s only a small portion of our bilateral trade,” he added. “There’s huge potential.”

The ambassador said the uncertainty created by the U.S. tariffs is also prompting Chinese investors to explore new investment frontiers in Nigeria.

“In just the past month, many Chinese entrepreneurs visited Nigeria to explore investment opportunities in renewable energy, agriculture, and manufacturing. Nigeria’s population of over 200 million,” Yu stated, adding that such partnerships could drive Nigeria’s industrialization and agricultural modernization.

Yu also reaffirmed China’s long-standing role in Nigerian infrastructure development, describing the country as China’s biggest “engineering contract partner in Africa.”

He said deeper collaboration in this sector would continue, as “infrastructure enhances connectivity, efficiency, and robust development.”

However, Yu’s remarks were anchored in a much broader critique of U.S. economic policy.

He slammed Washington’s tariff measures as “a step backward in history,” warning that such actions are damaging the global economic system and harming developing nations like Nigeria.

“We live in the 21st century, an era of peace, development, cooperation, and shared prosperity. Yet the U.S. clings to an outdated mindset of ‘might makes right’ and ‘America First’, imposing unilateral tariffs and disregarding multilateral rules,” Yu said.

He accused the U.S. of promoting a “law-of-the-jungle approach” that undermines the rules-based global order, and called the tariff war a blatant violation of WTO principles. “This is not reciprocity or fairness – it’s economic bullying and a pursuit of American exceptionalism.”

Yu warned that the U.S. would suffer from its own actions, noting that tariffs had triggered inflation, strained supply chains, and raised the risk of recession at home.

“Rather than fixing its problems, the U.S. is exporting domestic crises,” he said, pointing to recent surveys showing widespread American opposition to the tariffs and a 7.2% inflation spike.

He also emphasized the disproportionate impact of U.S. trade policies on African countries, calling them “collateral damage” in a global standoff.

“These policies are undermining Africa’s industrialization and poverty reduction efforts,” he said.

In a strong call to action, the Chinese envoy urged the global community to resist U.S. coercion.

“No country can stay immune to bullying. Appeasement will only invite further aggression,” he said. “Opposing U.S. tariffs means standing up for multilateralism, fairness, and justice.”

Yu asserted that China’s resistance to these tariffs is not only a defense of its own interests but also a stand for the international community.

“Our countermeasures have helped create a 90-day window to stabilize global supply chains and open space for dialogue,” he said.

Returning to China-Nigeria relations, Yu reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to mutual benefit, high-level openness, and stronger trade ties.

“At last year’s FOCAC Summit, China pledged zero-tariff treatment to 100% of product categories from least-developed countries with diplomatic ties to China, including 33 African nations,” he noted.

With trade between China and Nigeria already topping $22 billion annually, Yu said the potential for growth is enormous.

“China and Nigeria are strategic partners. As Africa’s most populous nation and a leading voice in the Global South, Nigeria holds great influence. We’re ready to deepen cooperation and implement the outcomes of our leaders’ consensus,” he concluded.

The ambassador expressed confidence that China and Nigeria would continue to work together to uphold multilateral trade rules, resist protectionism, and build “a community with a shared future for humanity.” (Nigerian Tribune)