US President Donald Trump on September 17, 2018 hailed his aggressive use of tariffs as a success for American business, amid reports he plans to drastically ratchet up the battle with Beijing imminently. China’s foreign ministry vowed Monday to strike back if Trump presses ahead with plans to impose duties on another $200 billion in Chinese imports, which would leave about half of everything the United States buys from China subject to tariffs.
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BEIJING, China (AFP) — China said Tuesday it would “take countermeasures” after US President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese imports taking effect next week.
“In order to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests and the global free trade order, China has no choice but to take countermeasures in lockstep,” the commerce ministry said in the statement, which did not mention a previous threat to add tariffs on $60 billion in US imports if Washington imposed this new wave of levies.
“The US insists on increasing tariffs, which brings new uncertainty to the consultations between the two sides,” the ministry said.
© Agence France-Presse
