China has retaliated against the US’s tariff increases, promising to respond if Washington further intensifies trade conflicts.
In light of President Donald Trump’s reinvigorated tariffs on imports from China, Canada, and Mexico, Beijing has enacted its own levies on significant US exports and broadened trade limitations.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, delivered a stern caution: “Should the US persist in conducting a tariff battle, trade conflict, or any other form of confrontation, China will resist to the very end.”
He underlined that “the Chinese populace has never cowered in the face of threats, nor submitted to dominance or intimidation. Attempting to coerce China into compliance is a serious misjudgment.”
The State Council Tariff Commission of China has implemented a 15% tariff on US imports, which comprise chicken, wheat, corn, and cotton, alongside an additional 10% levy on soybeans, pork, beef, seafood, fruits, and dairy products.
China’s Ministry of Commerce also revealed that 15 American firms will be incorporated into its export control roster, restricting Chinese businesses from supplying dual-use technology and equipment to them. Furthermore, Beijing has:
– Prohibited timber imports from the US,
– Halted licenses for three American companies exporting soybeans, and
– Initiated an anti-dumping probe into fiber optic imports.
As per Alfredo Montufar-Helu from the China Center for the Conference Board, Beijing’s reaction is “a calculated and focused tactic, designed to impact industries most vital to Trump’s political support.”
As the trade conflict escalates, friction between the world’s two largest economies continues to rise, with neither party indicating a willingness to relent.
