China on Tuesday, April 8th, accused the United States of “pressure, threats, and blackmail” after President Donald Trump floated additional tariffs of 50% on the world’s second-largest economy.
“Tariff wars have no winners, and protectionism has no way out. Chinese people don’t make trouble, but are not afraid of it. Pressure, threats, and blackmail are not the right way to deal with China,” foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.
A spokesperson for Beijing’s commerce ministry said on Tuesday that “if the U.S. insists on going its own way, China will fight it to the end.”
Last week, Donald Trump unveiled sweeping tariffs against U.S. trading partners after what he said were “years of being ripped off.” On Friday, China said it would impose retaliatory levies of 34% on all U.S. goods from April 10th. In response, Trump threatened China with additional tariffs of 50%.
Trump’s tariffs have rocked global markets.
“I have great respect for China but they cannot do this,” Trump said in the White House on Monday.
Beijing warned it will take “countermeasures to safeguard its own rights and interests” but also reiterated that it sought “dialogue” with Washington.
