China will resolutely take countermeasures if US escalates tariff measures: commerce ministry

China firmly opposes the tariff threats coming from the White House and will resolutely adopt countermeasures to safeguard its own rights and interests if the United States follows through with the tariff escalation, the Ministry of Commerce said on Tuesday.

The Chinese government has taken note of the US administration's threat, made on April 7th Eastern Time, to potentially impose an additional 50 percent tariff on Chinese goods, a spokesperson of the ministry said.

"If the US insists on this wrongful path, China will be ready to fight to the end," the spokesperson added.

China urges the US to immediately correct its erroneous actions, cancel all unilateral tariff measures against China, and stop the economic and trade suppression of China. Based on mutual respect, China stands ready to properly resolve its differences with the US through dialogue, the spokesperson said.

"The US claim of imposing 'reciprocal tariffs' on China is completely unfounded and is a typical act of unilateral bullying," the spokesperson said. "The countermeasures China has already taken are legitimate efforts to defend its national sovereignty, security, and development interests, as well as to maintain the normal international trade order".

The US threat to further hike tariffs on China is a misstep upon a misstep, once again exposing the extortionist nature of the US administration. China will not accept this, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson reiterates there are no winners in a trade war, and protectionism has no way out. Coercion and threats are not the correct way to engage with China.