US President Donald Trump has imposed 25% tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese goods, accusing Beijing of intellectual copyright theft.
Tariffs that affect more than 800 products worth $34 billion in annual trade are due to come into effect on July 6.
The White House said it will take comments on another list of products valued at $16 billion and impose further tariffs if China retaliates.
According to the BBC, Mr. Trump said the tariffs were “essential to preventing further unfair transfers of American technology and intellectual property to China, which will protect American jobs.”
Meanwhile, Beijing responded within minutes to Washington’s announcement, saying they would impose tariff measures “of the same scale and strength”.
“China is unwilling to have a trade war, but the Chinese side has no choice but to strongly oppose this, due to the United States’ myopic behaviour that will harm both parties,” the commerce ministry website said.
