Washington increased tariffs at midnight on $34 billion US worth of Chinese imports amidst threats to escalate tariffs.
Retaliatory measures "took effect immediately," said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lu Kang.
Hu gave no details, but the Communist Party newspaper People's Daily said the customs agency was carrying out a plan announced last month to impose 25 per cent tariffs on a $34-billion list of American goods including soybeans, pork and electric cars.
On Thursday, Trump said higher tariffs on an additional $16 billion in Chinese goods were set to take effect in two weeks. He spoke to reporters who flew with him to Montana for a campaign rally.
After that, the hostilities could intensify: Trump said the U.S. is ready to target an additional $200 billion in Chinese imports — and then $300 billion more — if Beijing does not yield to U.S. demands and continues to retaliate.
