China warned Wednesday it would would retaliate against the U.S. after President Trump threatened to impose tariffs on another $200 billion worth of Chinese exports.
The Chinese commerce ministry released a statement that said it was “shocked” and would complain about the threat to the World Trade Organization. It called the Trump administration’s actions “completely unacceptable” and “typical bullying,” Reuters reported.
“This is a fight between unilateralism and multilateralism, protectionism and free trade, might and rules,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Wednesday during a briefing.
China has not specified how it might retaliate, but said it could use tools other than tariffs to hit back. It could decide, for example, to increase inspection requirements in ways that hurt U.S. companies, or delay investment, promote consumer boycotts, or even limit visits to the U.S. by Chinese tourists, which is worth billions to the U.S. economy.
On Tuesday, the Trump administration released a list of thousands of Chinese imports that it is considering hitting with tariffs, including food, tobacco, chemicals, coal, steel, aluminum, furniture, car tires, skis, toilet paper, and much more.
The $200 billion threat exceeds the total value of goods China imports from the U.S.
