China will hit back again, if US keeps punching

The tariffs that China imposed on 128 US imports, effective on Monday, were its first blow in retaliation to the recent US tariff hikes.

The import duties raised on a $3 billion list of US products, including pork, fruit, and wines, signal that China will not be intimidated by the United States' economic bullying and that to protect its national interests Beijing is willing to stand toe-to-toe with Washington and trade blows as necessary.

China "advocates and supports the multilateral trading system," the Finance Ministry said in a statement, but the US tariff hikes on Chinese imports of solar panels and steel and aluminum products have "seriously damaged our interests". It said the response is "a proper measure" adopted according to World Trade Organization rules.