China Warns US After Trump's Tariff Move: "If War Is What US Wants..."

Beijing/Washington – Tensions between the United States and China escalated further as Beijing issued a sharp response to President Donald Trump’s tariff policy, warning that it is prepared to "fight till the end" in any form of economic or trade conflict.

The warning came after Trump, during a joint session of Congress, announced a significant increase in tariffs on Chinese goods and accused Beijing of unfair trade practices and failing to curb fentanyl trafficking into the US.

Beijing Hits Back at Trump's Tariffs

In an unusually direct statement, the Chinese embassy in the US reacted strongly, stating:

"If war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war, or any other type of war, we’re ready to fight till the end," the embassy’s official handle posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Trump, justifying his decision, claimed that the US had been on the receiving end of unfair tariffs from multiple countries for years.

“Other nations, including China, India, Mexico, and Canada, impose significantly higher tariffs on us than we do on them. This is unfair. China’s average tariff on American goods is double what we charge them. South Korea’s tariff rates are four times higher. This stops now,” Trump declared.

China Lodges WTO Complaint

In response to Trump's move to raise existing 10% tariffs on Chinese goods to 20%, Beijing has filed a formal complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO), calling the US measures a violation of international trade rules.

"The United States' unilateral tax measures seriously violate WTO rules and undermine the foundation of China-US economic and trade cooperation," China’s Commerce Ministry stated.

Fentanyl Crisis Becomes a Flashpoint

Trump also blamed China for failing to curb the export of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids—a key issue in the ongoing trade dispute.

However, China’s Foreign Ministry dismissed these accusations, calling them an excuse to justify higher tariffs.

"The fentanyl issue is a flimsy excuse to raise tariffs on Chinese imports. Instead of recognizing our efforts to assist the US in tackling this crisis, Washington has sought to smear China, shift blame, and use tariffs as a pressure tactic," the ministry stated.

It further warned that "intimidation and bullying will not work on China", urging the US to engage in dialogue rather than coercion to address mutual concerns.

Escalating Trade War Ahead?

With US-China relations already strained, this latest move threatens to escalate the ongoing trade war, with potential global economic repercussions. Beijing has yet to announce retaliatory measures, but analysts expect countermeasures in the form of tariff hikes on American exports or restrictions on key US industries.

As the confrontation intensifies, all eyes are on how Beijing will respond next and whether diplomatic efforts can prevent a full-scale trade war between the world's two largest economies.