China has strongly condemned the latest round of US tariffs, branding them as “groundless” and a “unilateral bullying practice.” In a sharp response on Tuesday, a spokesperson from China’s Ministry of Commerce warned that if the US follows through with its proposed 50% tariff hike, China will retaliate firmly to protect its rights and interests.
“China firmly opposes the US’s threat to escalate tariffs and will resolutely take countermeasures,” the spokesperson said in a statement, adding that the imposition of so-called “reciprocal tariffs” is unjustified and reflects a continued pattern of economic coercion.
The comments come after US President Donald Trump announced, via his social media platform Truth Social, a proposed 50% tariff on Chinese goods starting April 9. This move follows China’s retaliatory tariff hike of 34%, which Trump called a “direct violation” of earlier warnings and threatened to end all trade talks unless China reverses its actions.
“China will fight to the end,” the spokesperson declared, stressing that “there are no winners in a trade war” and that pressure and threats are not effective means to deal with Beijing. The ministry also called on Washington to “cancel all unilateral tariff measures” and return to resolving disputes through equal dialogue based on mutual respect.
The rising trade tensions have rattled global markets. Asian stock markets saw a sharp sell-off on Monday, with investors fearing the economic fallout of an escalating tariff war between the world’s two largest economies.
Trump’s broader tariff policy, introduced earlier this month, targets multiple countries with new import duties. Apart from China (34%), the new tariffs affect imports from the European Union (20%), Vietnam (46%), Taiwan (32%), Japan (24%), India (26%), and several others, with the rationale of enforcing “fair and reciprocal” trade practices.
As the standoff intensifies, global economic observers are warning of renewed instability in global supply chains and trade flows, reminiscent of the 2018–2019 US-China trade war that disrupted international commerce and slowed economic growth.
