The Chinese government hit back at President Trump on Tuesday, saying that his decision to tax more than half of all Chinese exports to the US had undermined recent efforts to reach a negotiated settlement and would spark counter-measures.
“We have been stressing that talks need to happen on the basis of parity, equality and good faith,” a foreign ministry spokesperson said at a daily briefing. “What the US has done shows no sincerity and good faith at all.”
In a separate statement, China’s commerce ministry, which led the last round of trade talks with the US, said: “In order to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests and the global free trade order, China will have to retaliate as a response.”