China said on Tuesday it was ready to “fight to the end” in a trade war with the US after President Donald Trump said he would impose an additional 100% tariff on the world’s second-largest economy.
“On the matter of tariff wars and trade wars, China‘s position remains consistent,” an unnamed commerce ministry spokesperson said.
“If you wish to fight, we shall fight to the end; if you wish to negotiate, our door remains open.”
Concerns spiked over the weekend that the trade war between the world’s top two economies will worsen after Trump announced extra 100% tariffs on all Chinese goods.
The move, he said, was in response to Beijing’s announcement last week of sweeping new export controls in the strategic field of rare earths – currently dominated by China.
His announcement on Friday rattled markets and called into question a potential upcoming meeting with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in South Korea.
Trump‘s statement also said the US would impose export controls “on any and all critical software” from Nov 1.
Beijing’s commerce ministry spokesperson said China wanted to “reiterate that export control measures concerning rare earths and related items constitute legitimate actions by the Chinese government to improve its export control system in accordance with laws and regulations”.
“As a responsible major power, China has consistently and resolutely safeguarded its own national security and international collective security,” the spokesperson added.
