'If It's War US Wants, We’re Ready To Fight': China's Fiery Response To Trump's Reciprocal Tariff

US-China Tariff War: China has denounced the US's reciprocal tariff policy against it, accusing the US of blaming China for its fentanyl crisis and failing to acknowledge China's cooperation.

US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

Source : PTI

China on Wednesday hit back at the US after American President Donald Trump said that his reciprocal tariff policy against India and its neighbour would begin on April 2.

Trump had said that China had failed to curb the flow of fentanyl and similar chemicals into the US. Reacting to the charge, China said: "The fentanyl issue is a flimsy excuse to raise U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports. Our countermeasures to defend our rights and interests are fully legitimate and necessary."

The fentanyl issue is a flimsy excuse to raise U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports. Our countermeasures to defend our rights and interests are fully legitimate and necessary.

The U.S., not anyone else, is responsible for the #FentanylCrisis inside the U.S. In the spirit of humanity… pic.twitter.com/OjvSEcZS6o

— Spokesperson发言人办公室 (@MFA_China) March 4, 2025

US Responsible For Fentanyl Crisis

China said no one but the US is responsible for the fentanyl crisis in the country. "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," China said in a statement.

'Bullying Does Not Scare China'

The statement further said that Trump's intimidation would not scare China nor would "bullying work" on the country. "Pressuring, coercion, or threats are not the right way of dealing with China. Anyone using maximum pressure on China is picking the wrong guy and miscalculating. 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," it said. 

"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 statement further said.

What Is The Reciprocal Tariff War About?

Donald Trump, while addressing the Congress for the first time after taking charge as the US President for the second time, said that countries like India and China would have to pay reciprocal tariffs from April 2. "Other countries have used tariffs against us for decades, and now it's our turn," Trump said.

Trump had earlier doubled the tariff on Chinese imports to 20%. China, too, announced tit-for-tat tariffs, going up to 15% on several American products. An imposition of reciprocal tariffs by the US would mean an all-out trade war.

A trade war with Canada and Mexico is also ongoing. Trump announced a blanket 25% tariff on Mexico and Canada, which came into effect on Tuesday. Canada retaliated with a 25% tariff on several goods. Mexico said it would announce its retaliatory measures by the weekend.Burea