Trump's tariff threat escalates tensions with China
China firmly opposes the United States's threat to raise tariffs on Chinese goods by 50% and promises a decisive response, as a spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce in Beijing stated on Tuesday. The spokesperson called President Donald Trump's decisions "a mistake upon a mistake."
In a statement published on the ministry's website, the spokesperson emphasized that any potential tariff increases by the U.S. represent "typical unilateral hegemonic actions." China believes that the American threats reveal a "nature of blackmail" and are unacceptable.
This is a reaction to President Donald Trump's comments on Monday, where he threatened to impose additional 50% tariffs on Wednesday if Beijing does not retract its retaliatory tariffs of 34% on all U.S. goods announced by Chinese authorities on Friday. They are set to take effect on April 10.
If the U.S. insists on having its way, China will fight to the end, stated the unnamed spokesperson for the ministry.
The spokesperson emphasized that the PRC's retaliatory measures aimed to protect China's "sovereignty, security, and developmental interests" and maintain a standard international trade order.
The Communist authorities in Beijing called on Washington to "immediately correct its erroneous actions," remove all "unilateral tariffs" imposed on China, and cease economic and trade "repression" while resolving disputes through "equal dialogue based on mutual respect."
"There are no winners in a trade war"
The spokesperson repeated that pressure and threats are not the right ways to deal with China, adding that there are no winners in a trade war and that protectionism leads to nothing good.
If Trump were to carry out his threat and the new 50% tariff were added to those already announced, the introductory rate for almost all goods from the PRC would be 104%.
