China looks into countermeasures for Trump's new 10% tariff on Beijing
3 Min Read
A Global Times source states that "China will definitely carry out strong, powerful measures" should the United States impose a 10% tariff over the existing 10% tariff announced earlier this month.
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US President Donald Trump gestures as he walks across the South Lawn of the White House, on Sunday, March 2, 2025, in Washington, after returning from a trip to Florida. (AP)
China is studying and formulating its countermeasures in response to US President Donald Trump's threats to impose another 10% tariff on Chinese products, claiming that Beijing failed to curb the influx of fentanyl into the United States, according to a Global Times source on Monday.
The countermeasures are expected to include both tariffs and a series of non-tariff measures likely targeting US agricultural and food products, according to the source cited by the Global Times, who stressed, "If the US insists on imposing unilateral tariffs and formally announces relevant measures, China will definitely carry out strong, powerful countermeasures."
A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) stated on Friday that China has some of the world's strictest counternarcotics policies, enforces them rigorously, and collaborates internationally, including with the US, on drug control efforts, adding that blaming other countries will not solve the United States' own problems.
The MOFCOM spokesperson emphasized, "China hopes the US will not repeat its mistakes and will promptly return to the right path of resolving differences through equitable dialogue. If the US insists on proceeding on its own course, China will take all necessary countermeasures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interest."
On the other hand, the spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that "If the US continues to use the fentanyl issue to pressure, blackmail, coerce and threaten China, it will only be counterproductive and deal a blow to the dialogue and cooperation between China and the US in the field of drug control."
Trump imposes even more tariffs
Trump announced on Friday his plan to set another 10% tariff effective on Tuesday, targeting Chinese imports that are already facing a 10% tariff imposed on February 4, prompting China to vow to take "all necessary countermeasures."
In a post on Truth Social, #US President #DonaldTrump announced that the "proposed tariffs scheduled to go into effect on March fourth will, indeed, go into effect, as scheduled. China will likewise be charged an additional 10% Tariff on that date."
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) February 27, 2025
"The April Second Reciprocal… pic.twitter.com/zV3M8aDoEu
Previously, China responded to Trump's first 10% levy by imposing its own set of tariffs on American imports, namely a 15% tariff on US coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG) and a 10% tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery, and certain cars.
China also launched an anti-monopoly probe into Google and added PVH Corp and Illumina to its "unreliable entities list." It also imposed export controls on key materials like tungsten and tellurium, citing national security concerns.
The US president previously said in a Truth Social post on February 13 that he would impose reciprocal tariffs on any countries that try to charge duties on US imports: "Today is the big one: reciprocal tariffs," Trump's post read.
Trump's tariff threats are sparking concerns of a global trade war, as the European Union threatens to take action against any tariffs imposed by Trump, following his announcement of a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum US imports.
