The Blubber

China has vowed to take “resolute and effective measures” to defend its rights and interests, just hours after the United States implemented President Donald Trump’s 104% tariff hike on Chinese goods on Wednesday.

"The United States continues to impose arbitrary tariffs on China and exert extreme pressure without restraint. China firmly opposes this and will never accept such domineering and bullying conduct," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press briefing.

Beijing and Washington have been locked in a back-and-forth trade dispute, with China standing firm against each new tariff announced by the U.S.

Following the latest hike, Lin said that if the U.S. is genuinely interested in resolving the trade tensions through dialogue, it must adopt a stance based on equality, mutual respect, and shared benefit.

"If the U.S. turns a blind eye to the interests of both countries and the broader global community and insists on pursuing a tariff and trade war, China will fight back to the end," Lin warned.

Initially, U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports were set to rise by 34% on Wednesday as part of Trump's "reciprocal" trade policy. However, the president added another 50% after Beijing stood its ground and followed through with plans to impose a 34% retaliatory tariff on American goods by Tuesday noon. This escalation followed Trump's earlier move to reintroduce 20% tariffs on China upon his return to office.

Although China has not yet rolled out immediate countermeasures in response to the latest U.S. tariffs, the message from government officials, state-run media, and public commentators has been one of firm defiance, emphasizing readiness to retaliate while keeping channels for dialogue open.

Shortly after the new tariffs came into force, Beijing released a white paper detailing the state of China-U.S. trade and economic relations, which it said had been severely undermined by Washington’s “unilateral and protectionist actions.”

Prepared to Respond

In a written Q&A related to the white paper, an unnamed official from China’s Commerce Ministry reiterated that while China does not seek a trade war, it will not passively allow the legitimate rights and interests of its people to be violated.

"If the U.S. chooses to escalate trade tensions further, China possesses both the resolve and the necessary tools to implement firm countermeasures—and will do so to the end," the official stated.

They added that it is “normal” for two major economies to experience friction in their trade and economic interactions, but said China remains open to resolving differences through “equal-footed consultation.”

The official also criticized the U.S. for using tariffs as a tool to "disrupt the existing international economic and trade framework" and attempting to "intentionally interfere with established global supply and industrial chains."

While the Chinese government continues to project an image of measured confidence, the mood among some business owners on the ground is more cautious. Ms. Ye, a toy vendor in the southern city of Shantou, expressed concern that the new tariffs might threaten her livelihood.

"The only thing I can do is smile bitterly—I really don’t know whether I’ll end up losing my job," she told CNN.

Ye said her company is planning to halt shipments to the U.S. and is still weighing whether to exit the American market altogether.