US films, chicken among targets for import curbs by China in trade war?

Posts by prominent bloggers outline six ways Beijing could hit back if Trump imposes more tariffs.

- Joyce ZK Lim China Correspondent and Yew Lun Tian Senior Correspondent

SHANDONG/SINGAPORE — China looks set to up the ante as it stares down the latest tariff threat from the United States in a rapidly spiralling trade war.

On April 8, two prominent Chinese social media commentators seen as connected with the state outlined six ways in which China could hit back. Citing unnamed sources, they listed measures ranging from stopping fentanyl cooperation with the US to importing fewer American films.

This comes after US President Donald Trump threatened on April 7 to slap an additional 50 per cent tariff on Chinese imports if Beijing does not withdraw its tit-for-tat retaliatory levies of 34 per cent. This could bring the total tariff hikes imposed by the US on China in 2025 to 104 per cent, effective from April 9.

Undeterred, a Chinese commerce ministry spokesperson said on the morning of April 8 that Beijing would take countermeasures if Washington were to escalate tariffs against China. The spokesperson also declared that China will "fight till the end".