Beijing yesterday revealed more than 5,200 American-made products would be slapped with new levies in response to a threat by Donald Trump’s administration to impose additional duties on $200bn of Chinese goods.
China has now imposed or proposed tariffs on £85bn ($110bn) in US goods. Last year, China imported some £100bn ($130bn) in goods from the United States.
Beijing has insisted its measures are “rational” and warned the US its tactics would not work.
The latest tariffs come as the trade war continues to escalate and Mr Trump attempts to force Xi Jining’s government to change its practices.
But commentaries in Chinese state media signalled Beijing is not willing to back down.
A piece in the Global Times, a tabloid run by the People’s Daily, described the retaliatory measures as “rational” and insisted China “will not rush to compete with US numbers”.
Meanwhile, Chinese state TV said: “The White House’s extreme pressure and blackmail are already clear to the international community.
“Such methods of extreme blackmail will not bear fruit against China.”
A commentary in the official Xinhua news agency said: ”The United States has repeatedly resorted to threatening and deceitful routines, trying to force China to compromise, both overestimating its own bargaining power and underestimating China’s determination and ability to defend its national dignity and the interests of its people.”
But Secretary of State Mike Pompeo remained steadfast on Washington’s push for fairer trading conditions.
He said: “President Trump inherited an unfair trade regime where American workers and American companies were not treated reciprocally or fairly by the Chinese, and the efforts of the Trump administration are to right that, to correct that.”
China’a new tariffs would see 5,207 US-made products taxed at rates of 25, 20, 10 or five percent.
Goods impacted by the highest bracket include wine, leather and liquified natural gas.
This latest move comes after it emerged Donald Trump’s administration is considering hitting £154bn ($200bn) of Chinese imports with additional levies.
The two countries have already imposed £26bn ($34bn) worth of tariffs on each others’ goods as the trade war ramped up in July.
Washington has announced a further £12bn ($16bn) of Chinese products will be targeted in the coming weeks. Beijing says it will match any additional duties immediately.
One of Mr Trump’s top economic advisors said the US leader has no intention of backing down.
Speaking to Bloomberg TV yesterday, National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow said: “We’ve said many times: no tariffs, no tariff barriers, no subsidies.
“We want to see trade reforms. China is not delivering, OK?
“Their economy’s weak, their currency is weak, people are leaving the country.
“Don’t underestimate President Trump’s determination to follow through.”