The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has pledged to retaliate against the latest round of United States import tariffs, which are set to take effect on Tuesday.
This development comes amid ongoing tensions between the two nations, with Beijing accusing the Trump administration of attempting to deflect responsibility and exert pressure over the issue of fentanyl trafficking.
The new tariff, an additional 10% duty announced by U.S. President Donald Trump last week, is scheduled to be implemented at 0501 GMT on March 4.
This will bring the total levy on certain Chinese imports to 20%, as part of Washington’s response to what it perceives as Beijing’s lack of action in curbing drug-related exports.
The latest increase adds to the already existing tariffs on thousands of Chinese products.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has accused China of supplying chemicals essential for fentanyl production, a claim China has consistently refuted.
Reports from Monday indicated that China is preparing countermeasures targeting American agricultural and food products, including a mix of tariff and non-tariff actions in response.
“China has repeatedly stated that the U.S.’ unilateral tariffs violate World Trade Organization rules and undermine the multilateral trade system.
“Such measures will not solve the US problems but instead will harm China-US economic and trade cooperation and disrupt regular international trade,” the Commerce Ministry stated.
Beijing has urged Washington to revoke the new tariffs, describing them as unreasonable and unjustified.
China insists that such actions not only fail to address U.S. concerns but also pose a broader threat to global trade stability.
