China “will fight until the end” after Trump threatens more prices

Beijing (AP)-China said on Tuesday that it “fights to the end” and would take countermeasures against the United States to protect its own interests after President Donald Trump threatened an additional 50% rate on Chinese imports.

The Ministry of Commerce said that the United States’s imposition of “so-called” reciprocal prices “on China is” completely baseless and is a typical practice of unilateral intimidation “.

China, the second world economy, announced reprisal prices and the ministry hinted in its last statement that more could happen.

“The countermeasures that China has taken aim to protect its interests from sovereignty, security and development and to maintain the international order of international trade. They are completely legitimate,” said the ministry.

“The American threat to degenerate the prices on China is an error in addition to an error and again exposes the nature of blackmail of American China will never accept it. If the United States insists on its own path, China will fight to the end,” he added.

Analysts and merchants are concerned about a world trade war

The threat of Trump on Monday of additional prices on China raised new concerns that his desire to rebalance the world economy could intensify a financially destructive trade war. The Tokyo stock markets in New York have become more unstable as the tariff war is getting worse.

Trump’s threat occurred after China said it would retaliate against the American tariffs it announced last week.

“If China does not withdraw its 34% increase above its trade abuses already long-term by tomorrow, on April 8, 2025, the United States will impose additional prices on China by 50%, from April 9,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “In addition, all discussions with China concerning their meetings requested with us will be finished!”

If Trump implements his new prices on Chinese products, American prices on Chinese products would reach 104% combined. The new taxes would also be prices of 20% announced as a punishment for fentanyl trafficking and its distinct rates of 34% announced last week. Not only could this increase the prices of American consumers, but it could also encourage China to flood other countries with cheaper goods and seek deeper relations with other business partners, in particular the European Union.

The Chinese worries, but keep the faith with their country

In the streets of Beijing, people said they had trouble keeping all the announcements, but expressed their belief in the ability of their country to resist the storm.

“Trump says one thing today and another tomorrow. Anyway, he just wants advantages, so that he can say what he wants,” said Wu Qi, 37, who works in construction.

Others were less bloody. Paul Wang, 30, who sells accessories in stainless steel, in particular necklaces, bracelets and nail nails in Europe, said the European market was now more important after the additional 50% American rates and that he would observe to see which other companies in his field would competition.

Jessi Huang and Yang Aijia, whose companies import chemicals from the United States, said prices, including potential Chinese retribution, could force them to close their store.

“It would be very difficult and very likely to have a layoff, maybe even close,” said Huang, “I might not be able to find another job if I am dismissed.”

China is not out of options to retaliate

China still has a range of options to retaliate at Washington, experts said, including the suspension of cooperation on the fight against fentanyl, the higher quota ceiling on agricultural products and American trade in China, such as finances and law firms.

The total trade in American goods with China was estimated at $ 582 billion in 2024, making it the largest trader in goods with the United States, the 2024 deficit with China in the trade in goods and services was between $ 263 billion and $ 295 billion.

The spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lin Jian, seemed to give a short time to speak of dialogue with the Trump administration.

“I do not think that what the United States has done reflects a desire for sincere dialogue. If the United States really wants to engage in dialogue, it should adopt an attitude of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefits,” said Lin.

In Hong Kong, where actions were slightly higher on Tuesday, CEO John Lee criticized the last American rates as “intimidation”, saying that “ruthless behavior” damaged world and multilateral trade and caused great risks and uncertainties to the world.

Lee said the city would link its economy closer to the development of China, would sign more free trade agreements, would attract more foreign companies and capital in Hong Kong, and support local businesses to cope with the impact of prices.

The writers of the Associated Press Chris Megerian, Josh Boak and Fu Ting in Washington, Christopher Bodeen in Taipei, Taiwan and Kanis Leung in Hong Kong contributed to this report.

Originally published: April 8, 2025 at 6:52 a.m.