China vowed to fight the United States “to the end” in response to President Donald Trump’s steep tariffs as tensions over Beijing’s handling of the fentanyl crisis turn into a global war over trade.
The tariff dispute began just over two months ago when Trump slapped 10% tariffs on China in an effort to incentivize Beijing to take more aggressive action to end the fentanyl crisis. That number has increased since February, with China now facing up to 104% tariffs from the U.S. In retaliation, Beijing announced 10-15% tariffs on U.S. agricultural and energy products, followed by an additional 34% tariff on all U.S. imports last Friday.
On Tuesday, China defended its trade practices in a statement that said Trump had made a “mistake” by placing steep tariffs on Beijing and blamed the U.S. solely for the trade war.
“The countermeasures China has taken are aimed at safeguarding its sovereignty, security, and development interests, and maintaining the normal international trade order. They are completely legitimate,” China’s Commerce Ministry said.
“The U.S. threat to escalate tariffs on China is a mistake on top of a mistake and once again exposes the blackmailing nature of the U.S. China will never accept this. If the U.S. insists on its own way, China will fight to the end,” it added.
The strong words from Beijing’s Commerce Ministry come after Trump used authorities under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to place a 10% tariff on imports from China on Feb. 1 and later doubled the number to 20% on March 3. On April 2, Trump placed additional tariffs of 34% on Beijing. The president further threatened to impose another 50% tariff on China effective Wednesday after the country responded to the United States’ 34% tariffs with its own 34% retaliatory tariffs on the U.S.
“This is a significant escalation of China’s response,” Leah Fahy, a China economist at Capital Economics, wrote in a research note after Beijing placed 34% reciprocal tariffs on the U.S. on April 4. “Xi Jinping appears to feel that China’s economy is strong enough to withstand whatever Trump throws at it next.”
Tuesday is the deadline for China to withdraw the 34% tariffs against the U.S. or face the additional 50% tariff threatened by Trump.
During a CNBC interview Tuesday morning, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, “China’s escalation is a big mistake” and argued that Beijing is playing a “losing hand” by raising tariffs.
“I think it was a big mistake, this Chinese escalation. We are the deficit country. So what do we lose by the Chinese raising tariffs on us? We export one-fifth to them of what they export to us. So that is a losing hand for them,” he said.
.@SecScottBessent: @POTUS has maximum negotiating leverage right here, right now. I think it would be a mistake to think otherwise. Many of our trading partners have not escalated, and they will get priority in the queue. I think it was a big mistake, this Chinese escalation. pic.twitter.com/HhhmEhHjrz
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 8, 2025
However, during a news briefing on Tuesday, China Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian questioned the U.S.’s “willingness for sincere dialogue.”
“I think what the U.S. has done doesn’t reflect a willingness for sincere dialogue,” he said. “If the U.S. really wants to engage in dialogue, it should adopt an attitude of equality, mutual respect, and mutual benefit. If the U.S. disregards the interests of both countries and the international community and insists on a tariff war and trade war, China will surely fight to the end.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the closing ceremony of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday, March 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
HOW COUNTRIES ARE REACTING TO TRUMP’S ‘LIBERATION DAY’ TARIFF ANNOUNCEMENTS
Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee responded to the tariffs this week by criticizing the U.S. for abandoning “free trade.” Lee announced that Hong Kong will deepen ties with Beijing and other countries in response to the tariffs.
“The U.S. no longer adheres to free trade, arbitrarily undermining the internationally established rules of world trade, and its ruthless behavior damages global and multilateral trade,” he said. The tariffs “will disrupt the world economic and trade order, bring great risks and uncertainties to the world,” Lee added.
