The Chinese government on Monday vowed to “fight to the end” after President Trump ramped up his tariff threat against the nation, warning he could impose an additional 50 percent tax on goods coming from the world’s second-largest economy.

China’s Ministry of Commerce characterized Trump’s reciprocal tariffs as “completely groundless and is a typical unilateral bullying practice” and signaled that apart from the additional taxes Beijing issued last week, more could be rolled out in the near future.

“The countermeasures China has taken are aimed at safeguarding its sovereignty, security and development interests, and maintaining the normal international trade order,” the ministry said Tuesday. “They are completely legitimate.” 

“The U.S. threat to escalate tariffs on China is a mistake on top of a mistake and once again exposes the blackmailing nature of the U.S. China will never accept this,” it added. “If the U.S. insists on its own way, China will fight to the end.” 

Trump, in a post on Truth Social on Monday, escalated the back-and-forth between the two nations by threatening to add 50 percent to the current 54 percent tariff rate — reached after the administration imposed a 34 percent reciprocal tax on China during last week’s announcement from the White House.

“If China does not withdraw its 34 percent increase above their already long-term trading abuses by tomorrow, April 8th, 2025, the United States will impose ADDITIONAL Tariffs on China of 50 percent, effective April 9th,” Trump wrote Monday on Truth Social. “Additionally, all talks with China concerning their requested meetings with us will be terminated!”

Last week, the president unveiled 10 percent flat-rate tariffs on all imports coming into the U.S. and a higher-priced reciprocal tariff on dozens of nations.

China responded days later, saying it would hit the U.S. with a matching 34 percent reciprocal tax on imports starting this week, arguing the sweeping import taxes undermine the “interests of the United States itself but also endangers global economic development and the stability of the production and supply chain.”

If imposed, import taxes on goods from China could reach as high as 70 percent.

Earlier in the year, the president slapped an additional 10 percent tariff on China, punishing the country for not doing enough to curb the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S., bringing the tax rate up to 20 percent.

“If U.S. insists on waging a tariff war, a trade war, China will fight till the end,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said during the press conference Tuesday.