China issued a warning on Tuesday evening that it is ready for any “type of war” with the United States in the aftermath of the prices imposed for hours earlier by the Trump administration.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said the prices would not lead to a resolution of American concerns about fentanyl from China.
“If the United States really wants to solve the problem of fentanyl, then the right thing to do is to consult China on the basis of equality, mutual respect and mutual advantages to respond to the concerns of the other,” said Chinese spokesperson Lin Jian said During a press conference Tuesday evening.
“If the United States has another program in the mind and if the war is what the United States wants, whether it is a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we are ready to fight until the end,” added the spokesman.
The remarks occurred shortly after the Trump administration imposed prices of 25% on the goods of Mexico and Canada, as well as tariffs of 10% on imports from China. The new series of tasks on Chinese products has doubled a first set of prices placed on China last month.
A few minutes after the new American prices take effect, China unveiled its initial response on Tuesday by placing additional tariffs of 10% to 15% on imported American products, such as chicken, wheat, soy and beef.
“The reprisals rates that China impose is very specific and directly targeting American farmers, who are mainly in the red states and have mainly voted for Trump,” News Neil Thomas, a member of the Chinese Policy Policy Institute, told ABC News.
“China is therefore trying to create pain where it counts for Trump, and he hopes to bring Trump to the negotiating table and offer relief for this group of Trump supporters,” added Thomas.
President Donald Trump speaks in the Roosevelt hall of the White House in Washington, DC, March 3, 2025.
Roberto Schmidt / AFP via Getty Images
Recent tasks will be placed in addition to similar rates imposed by China during the trade war of the first Trump administration in 2018. Some of these prices are already 25%, although Beijing has issued exemptions following the 2020 “phase un” trade agreement.
The new Chinese prices should come into force for the goods sent on March 10.
In a series of publications on social networks last month, Trump said that he would place prices on Canada, Mexico and China for welcoming the manufacture and transport of illicit drugs that are found in the United States
During a speech to a joint congress session on Tuesday evening, Trump also brutally criticized the prices imposed by the Chinese government on American goods.
“President Trump continues to demonstrate his commitment to guarantee that American trade policy serves national interest,” said the White House a declaration Tuesday.
Commerce secretary Howard Lunick said Trump on Tuesday afternoon could soon offer Canada and Mexico a path to the relief of the prices placed on certain goods covered by the free trade agreement in North America.
Lutnick did not mention a potential compromise with China.
Selina Wang of ABC News, Kevin Shalvey, Karson Yiu and Ellie Kaufman contributed to this report.
