China has issued a strong response to Donald Trump’s recent tariff hikes, declaring that it is “ready to fight till the end” in any kind of war, including a trade war. The statement came after Trump doubled tariffs on all Chinese imports from 10% to 20% while also imposing new tariffs on Mexico and Canada. The Chinese embassy reinforced the message with a social media post, warning that if war is what the U.S. wants—whether economic or otherwise—China is prepared to stand its ground.
Trump justified the tariffs as a measure to protect U.S. national security, particularly in response to concerns about drug trafficking. In retaliation, China imposed its own tariffs, hitting American agricultural products such as chicken, wheat, corn, pork, beef, and dairy with 10-15% levies. It also stopped lumber imports and suspended U.S. permits for soybean exports, directly targeting industries that are politically significant to Trump’s base.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian made it clear that Beijing will not back down, saying, “The Chinese people have never feared evil or ghosts, nor have we ever bowed to hegemony or bullying.” He warned that applying maximum pressure on China was a “miscalculation and a mistake.” Meanwhile, China has set its economic growth target at 5% for the year, shifting focus toward boosting domestic demand rather than relying on exports.
With tensions escalating, the trade dispute between the U.S. and China appears far from over. While Trump’s administration insists the tariffs are necessary for economic and security reasons, Beijing’s defiant stance suggests a prolonged standoff. Whether the two superpowers will find common ground or push their economic battle further remains uncertain.
