Donald Trump has increased the tariffs against China from 10 percent to 20 percent
China’s Foreign Ministry and the Chinese embassy have both said they are ‘ready to fight till the end’ after Donald Trump doubled the tariff on all Chinese imports from 10 percent to 20 percent.
After introducing a 10 percent tariff on China in early February, President Trump raised the stakes on March 4, announcing a hefty 25 percent tariff on imports from both Mexico and Canada.
Trump insists the move is aimed at “combating the extraordinary threat to U.S. national security,” citing concerns over unchecked drug trafficking and public health risks. However, China wasted no time retaliating, slapping 10-15 percent tariffs on select U.S. agricultural imports in response.
The 15 percent tariffs imposed by China affect popular U.S. exports like chicken, wheat, corn, and cotton, while the 10 percent levies target a range of products, including pork, beef, seafood, fruits, vegetables, and dairy. Additionally, China has halted lumber imports and suspended U.S. permits for soybean exports.
Alfredo Montufar-Helu, head of the China Center for the Conference Board, described China’s response as a “restrained, targeted approach” aimed at hitting industries most crucial to Trump’s supporters. Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy has taken a bold stance, posting a defiant message on Twitter, warning that China is prepared for battle.
The statement read: “If war is what the U.S. wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war, or any other type of war, we’re ready to fight till the end.”
The tweet from the Chinese embassy mirrors remarks made by Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, on March 4, when he asserted that China would “fight till the end” if the U.S. persisted in its “tariff war, trade war, or any other kind of war.” Jian added, “I want to reiterate that the Chinese people have never feared evil or ghosts, nor have we ever bowed to hegemony or bullying. Pressure, coercion, and threats are not the right ways to engage with China. Trying to exert maximum pressure on China is a miscalculation and a mistake.”
China has now set its economic growth target at “around five percent” for the year, aiming to achieve this by focusing on domestic demand as the primary engine of growth. Previously, the country relied heavily on exports to meet such targets.
