US using tariffs to exert 'maximum pressure,' says China

The US is exerting “maximum pressure” and using tariffs as a "weapon,” said China on Thursday, vowing not to give into Washington's latest trade moves.

Beijing will not fear the US' “selfish” moves, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters in the Chinese capital, adding that Beijing's response “will continue until the end.”

He said US President Donald Trump's “reciprocal” tariffs of up to 125% are “against the whole world” and “undermined” the multilateral trading system.

“The US threat and blackmail against the rest of the world with tariffs is a real attempt to hold the world by the throat and coerce them into making a compromise or concessions," said Lin.

"Threatening, pressuring, extorting is not the right way to deal with China,” he added. “If the US surely wants talks, it should show an attitude of equality and respect.”

Beijing's reaction comes after Trump, angered by China's own additional tariffs of 84% on all US imports, raised tariffs on Chinese imports to 125%.

Trump's wide-ranging tariffs on allies and rivals alike have roiled the global markets but the US president gave a reprieve of 90 days to nations which did not retaliate against Washington, with instead a base 10% tariffs for all.

"Tariff wars and trade wars have no winners. China does not want to fight them, but will not fear when they come our way,” Lin vowed.

“We will not sit by and watch the legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese people be infringed upon, nor will we stand by and watch the international economic and trade rules and the multilateral trading system be undermined.”