China pushes back on new tariff threat by US

BEIJING: China signalled on Sunday that it would not back down in the face of a 100% tariff threat from President Donald Trump, urging the US to resolve differences through negotiations instead of threats. US Vice President JD Vance defended Trump's position and seemed to warn China not to be aggressive in its response.

- Associated Press

“China's stance is consistent,” the commerce ministry said in a statement posted online. “We do not want a tariff war but we are not afraid of one.”

It was China's first official comment on Trump's threat to jack up the tax on imports from China by November 1 in response to new Chinese restrictions on the export of rare earths, which are vital to a wide range of consumer and military products.