“If War Is What The U.S. Wants, We’re Ready To Fight Till The End”: China Vows To Fight U.S. Tariffs

China has vowed to return every energy given by the U.S. as President Trump pushes on with his trade tariffs, announced last month as a way of curbing the menace of fentanyl inflow from China.

In a statement on Wednesday, the spokesperson of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs underscored Beijing’s readiness to match the U.S.’s energy as the sweeping new tariffs take effect. The stark warning noted that China is “ready to fight till the end” for “any type of war” that the U.S. wants.

Trump, in a primetime address to Congress, attempted to downplay the repercussions of his aggressive trade policy, conceding only that his steep new tariffs would cause “a little disturbance.” However, experts have cautioned that the economic fallout may be far more significant than the president suggests.

The Impact of the Tariffs

The newly imposed 25% tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China are part of Trump’s broader strategy to reset trade balances and pressure foreign governments into making concessions. However, these tariffs function as taxes on imported goods, and the costs are often passed directly to American consumers and businesses.

The tariffs on Chinese goods, in particular, target a broad range of products—from electronics and appliances to clothing and industrial components. Many of these items are staples in American households or critical to manufacturing supply chains. The increased costs are expected to filter through to retail prices, potentially leading to higher costs for everyday items such as smartphones, laptops, apparel, and even children’s toys.

As tensions escalate, China is not standing down, but rather, preparing for a robust response that could plunge global markets into deeper uncertainty.

In a detailed statement, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized the U.S.’s use of the fentanyl crisis as a “flimsy excuse” to justify the new tariffs.

“The U.S., not anyone else, is responsible for the #FentanylCrisis inside the U.S. In the spirit of humanity and goodwill towards the American people, we have taken robust steps to assist the U.S. in dealing with the issue. Instead of recognizing our efforts, the U.S. has sought to smear and shift blame to China, and is seeking to pressure and blackmail China with tariff hikes,” the statement read.

“They’ve been PUNISHING us for helping them. This is not going to solve the U.S.’s problem and will undermine our counternarcotics dialogue and cooperation.”

China’s spokesperson also made it clear that Beijing would not back down in the face of intimidation.

“Intimidation does not scare us. Bullying does not work on us. Pressuring, coercion or threats are not the right way of dealing with China. Anyone using maximum pressure on China is picking the wrong guy and miscalculating.”

The statement concluded with a bold declaration: “If war is what the U.S. wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we’re ready to fight till the end.”

Global Retaliation and Economic Fallout

China is not alone in its response. Canada and Mexico, both major U.S. trade partners, have also retaliated with their own tariffs. Canada imposed duties on a variety of American goods, strategically targeting products from politically influential states. Mexico, a significant market for American agricultural products, imposed tariffs on U.S. farm exports, directly threatening an industry that is already struggling.

The European Union has similarly prepared countermeasures, warning that tariffs on American products like bourbon, motorcycles, and blue jeans could take effect if Trump continues his protectionist policies.

In total, the retaliatory tariffs from all affected countries cover billions of dollars worth of American goods, creating a ripple effect that could affect industries from agriculture to automotive manufacturing.

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, representing most major automakers, has warned that the tariffs on Canada and Mexico could trigger price hikes of up to 25% on some car models. This would not only affect consumers but could also lead to job losses in the automotive sector, which relies heavily on cross-border supply chains.

The financial markets have reacted negatively to the unfolding trade war. U.S. stocks plummeted for the second straight day as Trump’s tariffs took effect, and economic analysts are warning of increased volatility ahead.

Despite Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s suggestion that a compromise with Canada and Mexico could be imminent, Trump provided no indication of this during his address. Instead, he doubled down on his demands, particularly on the issue of drug trafficking.

“Mexico and Canada need to do much more than they’ve done, and they have to stop the fentanyl and drugs pouring into the U.S.A.,” Trump said.

However, the narrative linking tariffs to the fentanyl crisis has been widely criticized. Experts argue that imposing tariffs on imported goods is unlikely to address the complex issue of drug smuggling, and could instead harm legitimate trade and economic stability.

American Households in the Crossfire

For American consumers, the impact could be both swift and draining. Prices for everyday goods are expected to rise as importers pass on the costs of tariffs. Small businesses, particularly those that rely on imported materials, may struggle to absorb the additional expenses.

The National Retail Federation has urged the Trump administration to reconsider its approach, highlighting that the tariffs are essentially a tax on American consumers.

“Tariffs are not paid by foreign governments. They are paid here at home by American families and businesses,” said Matthew Shay, CEO of the National Retail Federation.

To many, Trump’s tariffs represent a high-stakes gamble that could reshape global trade dynamics. While the president remains confident that his strategy will lead to “trillions and trillions of dollars” and a U.S. “auto industry boom,” many economists warn that the risks far outweigh the potential rewards.