China threatens to retaliate if Trump imposes fresh tariffs on $200bn of Chinese imports
China has threatened to retaliate if the US imposes any new tariffs as the world's two biggest economies look set to escalate their trade war.
The deadline for public comments on US President Donald Trump's plan to impose tariffs on a further $200bn of Chinese imports will pass later today.
Trump could move ahead with the tariffs once the consultation closes.
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China's commerce ministry warned the country would retaliate against any new measures.
Ministry spokesman Gao Feng said: “If the US, regardless of opposition, adopts any new tariff measures, China will be forced to roll out necessary retaliatory measures.”
He said China would closely monitor the impact from any fresh tariffs and adopt strong measures to help Chinese or foreign firms operating in China to overcome difficulties.
The new duties threatened by the Trump administration would hit consumer products, such as furniture, lighting products, tyres and bicycles.
Analysts said the trade war was a risk to global growth and stability and warned a further round of tariffs would impact on global markets.
Read more: China vows to continue retaliatory tariffs against Trump's US
Lukman Otunuga, research analyst at FXTM, said the trade war could reach a “dangerous tipping point” if Trump went ahead with his plan.
He said: “Such a development is likely to fuel fears of a full-blown trade war between the world’s two largest economies becoming reality.
“With a trade war representing a significant risk to global growth and stability, appetite for risk is poised to diminish further ultimately punishing emerging markets and global stocks further.”
The two countries have already imposed tariffs on $50bn of each other's goods after talks broke down earlier this year.
Trump said on Wednesday the US was not yet ready to come to an agreement but that talks would continue.