China Warns US: “If War Is What You Want, We Are Ready” After Trump’s Tariff Hike

The Chinese Embassy in the US has responded to the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration over the fentanyl issue.

In a statement posted on X, the embassy stressed that the US should pursue equal consultation with China to resolve the matter.

“If the US truly wants to solve the fentanyl issue, then the right thing to do is to consult with China by treating each other as equals. If war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war, or any other type of war, we’re ready to fight till the end,” the embassy’s post read.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry rejected the fentanyl issue as a justification for the US tariff increases on Chinese imports. A ministry spokesperson emphasized that China’s measures to protect its rights and interests were both legitimate and necessary.

“The US, not anyone else, is responsible for the fentanyl crisis. In the spirit of humanity and goodwill towards the American people, we have taken robust steps to assist the US in dealing with the issue.

Instead of recognising our efforts, the US has sought to smear and shift blame to China and is seeking to pressure and blackmail China with tariff hikes. They’ve been PUNISHING us for helping them. This is not going to solve the US’s problem and will undermine our counternarcotics dialogue and cooperation,” the statement added.

The Trump administration has introduced an additional 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods, doubling the existing rate. These tariffs, which took effect on Tuesday, March 4, have also been extended to imports from Canada and Mexico over the same issue. The move has heightened trade tensions, raising concerns about economic growth and increasing costs for Americans already grappling with inflation.

Affecting nearly $2.2 trillion in annual trade, the tariffs were imposed after Trump accused the U.S.’s top three trading partners of failing to curb the flow of fentanyl and its precursor chemicals into the country.

Addressing Congress, Trump announced that further tariffs, including “reciprocal tariffs” and other non-tariff measures aimed at correcting trade imbalances, would take effect on April 2.

“Other countries have used tariffs against us for decades, and now it’s our turn,” Trump said, referencing high tariffs imposed on U.S. goods by India, South Korea, the European Union, China, and other nations.