U.S. President Donald Trump warned that he could impose an additional 50% tariff on China, prompting an immediate rebuttal from China, which stated it would "fight to the end."
The Spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce noted in a statement posted on its website on the 8th that "China has observed the U.S. threat to increase tariffs on China by 50% and strongly opposes it" and added, "If the U.S. implements the heightened tariff measures, China will take resolute countermeasures to safeguard its rights and interests."
He added that the U.S. imposing so-called 'reciprocal tariffs' on China is a typical act of baseless unilateral bullying, and that China's retaliation is a completely justified action to protect its sovereignty, security, development interests, and normal international trade order.
On the previous day, Trump stated through social media platform Truth Social that "if China does not withdraw the 34% tariff by the 8th, the U.S. will impose an additional 50% tariff on China. It will take effect from the 9th." In response to the U.S. imposition of the 34% tariff, China decided to impose the same 34% tariff on all imports from the U.S.
The Spokesperson stated, "The U.S. threatening to raise tariffs on China is compounding a mistake with another mistake, revealing the nature of the U.S.'s extortion. Therefore, China absolutely cannot accept this," and added, "If the U.S. insists on its way, China will certainly fight to the end."
China reiterated that issues should be resolved through dialogue. The Spokesperson noted, "Pressure and threats are not the right way to engage with China," and urged the U.S. to immediately correct its wrong approach, abolish all unilateral tariffs against China, cease economic and trade repression, and resolve differences appropriately through equal dialogue based on mutual respect.