In a strong response to the United States’ decision to raise tariffs on Chinese imports, China has accused the US of using the fentanyl crisis as a “flimsy excuse” and declared its readiness to fight any form of economic confrontation. “If war is what the US wants — be it a tariff war, a trade war, or any other type of war — we’re ready to fight till the end,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian.
Lin’s comments were made in response to a question from The New York Times regarding the US decision to increase tariffs to 10% on most Chinese goods. He condemned the move, stating, “The fentanyl issue is a flimsy excuse to raise US tariffs on Chinese imports. Our countermeasures to defend our rights and interests are fully legitimate and necessary.”
Shifting blame back to the US, Lin argued that the fentanyl crisis was America’s own responsibility. “In the spirit of humanity and goodwill toward the American people, we have taken robust steps to assist the US in dealing with this issue. Instead of recognizing our efforts, the US has sought to smear and shift blame onto China, using tariff hikes as pressure and blackmail,” he said. “They’ve been punishing us for helping them. This will not solve the US’s problem and will undermine our counternarcotics dialogue and cooperation.”
The Chinese spokesperson also issued a stern warning against what he called US intimidation tactics. “Intimidation does not scare us. Bullying does not work on us. Pressuring, coercion, or threats are not the right way of dealing with China. Anyone using maximum pressure on China is picking the wrong guy and miscalculating,” Lin said. “If the US truly wants to solve the fentanyl issue, the right approach is to consult with China by treating each other as equals.”
The escalating rhetoric follows the US decision — reported by CNN — to double tariffs on Chinese imports from 10% to 20%, a move reminiscent of the trade tensions under the Trump administration. In retaliation, China announced a series of tariffs on US agricultural imports. The State Council Tariff Commission confirmed a 15% tariff on chicken, wheat, corn, and cotton imports, along with a 10% tariff on sorghum, soybeans, pork, beef, aquatic products, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.
Additionally, China’s Ministry of Commerce placed 15 American companies, including drone manufacturer Skydio, on its export control list, barring Chinese firms from supplying them with dual-use equipment.
Alfredo Montufar-Helu, head of the China Center for the Conference Board, described China’s retaliatory approach as “restrained and targeted,” aimed at impacting industries crucial to the supporters of the Trump administration. He suggested that this strategy leaves room for future negotiations and the possibility of avoiding more severe economic confrontations.
As tensions rise, the prospect of an extended tariff war looms large, with both nations positioning themselves for a prolonged economic standoff.