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Soybeans are among US exports to be hit by Chinese retaliatory tariffs
Chinese media have mocked US President Donald Trump over plans to impose 25% tariffs on $50bn worth of Chinese goods, saying “wise men build bridges but fools build walls”.
Mr Trump announced the tariffs on Friday, accusing Beijing of intellectual copyright theft.
China retaliated, saying it would impose an additional 25% tariff on 659 US goods worth $50bn.
Stock markets fell after the announcements amid fear of a trade war.
The US had earlier warned that it will impose even more tariffs should China retaliate.
Mr Trump said the tariffs were “essential to preventing further unfair transfers of American technology and intellectual property to China, which will protect American jobs.”
The Chinese product lines that have been hit range from aircraft tyres to turbines and commercial dishwashers.
State-controlled media made a concerted attack on the new US measures.
“Following the path of expanding and opening up is China’s best response to the trade dispute between China and the United States, and is also the responsibility that major countries should have to the world,” said an editorial in Xinhua news agency.
“The wise man builds bridges, the fool builds walls,” it commented.
Official Communist Party newspaper the People’s Daily condemned what it described as the US administration’s “obsession with playing the disgraceful role of global economic disruptor”.
The Global Times, meanwhile, said Mr Trump was disrupting the world order to appeal to voters who think he’s fighting for them.
However, the English-language China Daily said it hoped the worst could still be avoided.
“Given the frequent flip-flopping of the Donald Trump administration, it is still too early to conclude that a trade war will start,” it said.
The media response came as China announced tariffs on $34bn of US goods including agricultural products, cars and marine products which will also take effect from 6 July.
Tariffs on other US goods will be announced at a later date, Xinhua said.
BBC