China announced it will raise tariffs on US imports from 34 percent to 84 percent, starting at 12:01 p.m. on Thursday, in response to the latest round of US trade measures.
The move comes just hours after the United States, under President Donald Trump, implemented new tariffs affecting multiple trading partners, including a steep 104 percent duty on certain Chinese goods.
In a statement released Wednesday, China’s Ministry of Finance condemned the US decision, calling it a serious violation of China’s rights and a threat to the global trade system.
“The United States’ continued tariff escalation adds error upon error and seriously infringes upon China’s legitimate interests,” the ministry said. It also warned that Washington’s actions are harming the multilateral, rules-based trade framework.
Beijing reiterated its opposition to tariff increases and vowed to take “firm and forceful” measures to safeguard its economic interests.
