China vows to fight Trump’s trade war to the bitter end’

China has vowed to fight to the bitter end” of any trade war with the US, after the country announced up to 15 per cent tariffs on American imports.

- ALISHA RAHAMAN SARKAR

The Chinese government said in a statement it will impose a 15 per cent tariff on imported chicken, wheat, corn and cotton, while a 10 per cent tariff will be placed on pork, beef, fruits, vegetables, dairy products and more. Beijing threatened to impose countermeasures after Donald Trump announced a 10 per cent levy on Chinese imports, which will be implemented from 10 March. China accounted for 17 per cent of American agricultural exports in 2023, according to the US Department of Agriculture.

Last night, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau called American tariffs “very dumb” and said that President Trump was appeasing Russia while launching a trade war against Canada. In a blunt news conference, Mr Trudeau said that Canada would plaster retaliatory tariffs on more than $100bn of American goods in response to Mr Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs.

“Today, the United States launched a trade war against Canada, their closest partner and ally, their closest friend. At the same time, they are talking about working positively with Russia, appeasing Vladimir Putin, a lying, murderous dictator. Make that make sense,” a visibly angry Mr Trudeau said.

A spokesperson for Beijing’s foreign ministry said the country has never succumbed to bullying or coercion, and that “trying to exert extreme pressure on China is a miscalculation and a mistake”. “If the United States ... persists in waging a tariff war, a trade war, or any other kind of war, the Chinese side will fight them to the bitter end,” Lin Jian said yesterday.