China says it will fight to the end against Trump's tariff hike.

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(Beijing) - China said on Tuesday it would "fight to the end" and take measures against the United States to protect its own interests after President Donald Trump threatened to impose an additional 50% tariff on Chinese imports.

The Commerce Department said the US imposition of "reciprocal tariffs" on China was "completely baseless and a typical unilateral threat exercise."

China, the world's second-largest economy, has announced retaliatory tariffs, and the ministry suggested in its latest statement that more could follow."The countermeasures taken by China are aimed at safeguarding its sovereignty, security and development interests and maintaining the normal international trade order. They are completely legal," the ministry said.

"The US threat to raise tariffs on China is a mistake on top of a mistake, and once again shows the character of the US's defamation. China will not accept this. If the US insists on its way, China will fight to the end."

Analysts and traders worry about a global trade war

Trump's threat on Monday of additional tariffs on China has raised fresh concerns that his push to rebalance the global economy could escalate a financially devastating trade war. Stock markets from Tokyo to New York have become increasingly volatile as the tariff war intensifies.

Trump's threat came after China said it would retaliate against US tariffs he announced last week.“If China does not remove their 34% increase in their long-term trade violations by tomorrow, April 8th, 2025, the United States will impose an additional 50% tariff on China effective April 9th,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Furthermore, all discussions with China regarding their requested meeting with us will be terminated!”

If Trump implements his new tariffs on Chinese products, the combined US tariffs on Chinese goods will reach 104%. The new tariffs would be on top of the 20% tariffs he announced as punishment for the fentanyl trade and his separate 34% tariff announced last week. Not only could it raise prices for American consumers, but it could also give China an incentive to offer cheaper goods to other countries and seek deeper ties with other trading partners, especially the European Union.