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Despite the bloodbath on Wall Street, U.S. President Donald Trump again threatened China with additional 50 percent tariffs.

In a post on his social media platform, Trump warned that if China did not retract its counter-tariff plans of 34 percent duties on American goods by April 8, the new 50 percent tariffs, which means that American companies importing certain Chinese goods could face a 104 percent tax, would come into effect on April 10. In the meantime, all Beijing-Washington talks will be terminated.

The businessman-turned-politician has been adept at using the "maximum pressure" strategy in interactions with countries Washington considers rivals. Trump's policy toward China is no exception.

The White House naively hopes that a total rate of 104 percent on Chinese imports could force Beijing to submit to Washington's unreasonable requests, accepting "reciprocal tariffs" without retaliation. Washington underestimated Beijing's determination to counter the Trump administration's blackmail nature and the resilience of the Chinese economy.

"If the U.S. insists on its own way, China will fight to the end," China's Ministry of Commerce said on Tuesday in response to Trump's latest threat.

Trump's tariff hikes are typical economic bullying that has triggered harsh criticisms from even within the Republican Party. Facing unfair trade practices, Beijing's countermeasures of 34 percent duties on American goods aim to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests. The completely legitimate retaliations have nothing to be hyped about. The White House's threat of a further 50 percent against China's legitimate countermeasures exposes its blackmail nature. Apparently, this is not what any sovereign state can accept.

Beijing's determination to fight until the end is also rooted in the resilience of the Chinese economy, which is driven by a solid intrinsic momentum.

As a result of years of efforts in structural reforms, China's economy has been shifting towards making domestic circulation the mainstay, with a substantial reduction in its resilience on foreign trade.

Official data show that China's economy's dependence on foreign trade peaked at 64.2 percent in 2006. The figure has now dropped to less than 35 percent. Domestic consumption has remained a major driving force, contributing more than 70 percent to the country's economic growth. In the meantime, China's exports to the U.S. have fallen from 19.2 percent in 2018 to 14.7 percent in 2024.

This means that while many American products, including soybeans, wheat and corn, are still highly dependent on the Chinese market, China has been diversifying its foreign markets and fostering domestic consumption, which has tremendously boosted its economic resilience in the face of ratcheted-up trade fights.

In addition, the intrinsic momentum in the Chinese economy has determined its bright future against trade headwinds. With efforts in cultivating high-quality productive forces, China, the world's second largest economy, has impressed the world with its achievements in new energy, artificial intelligence and other emerging industries. Robust development engines have ensured the sustained development of the Chinese economy against a deteriorating external environment.

More notably, Beijing has ample choices against Washington's tariffs in its toolbox. From the Central Economic Work Conference to the Two Sessions, the Chinese government has been actively expanding its toolbox for regulation and these tools can be activated at any time.

It is worth noting that after the slump in the A-share market, Central Huijin Investment Ltd., an arm of China's sovereign wealth fund, increased its holdings in stock market index funds and pledged to increase its exposure further.

Meanwhile, China's National Financial Regulatory Administration allowed insurance funds to allocate more equity assets. On Tuesday, the People's Bank of China said it would provide sufficient re-lending support to Central Huijin when necessary to maintain the steady operation of the capital market.

These maneuvers demonstrate China has the confidence and ample tools to fight against the United States' economic bullying till the end.

In the face of the Trump administration's repeated attempts to build tariff walls, the Chinese economy possesses strong resistance capabilities and sufficient means to withstand challenges. As a beneficiary and contributor of globalization, China is determined to uphold its responsibilities in global economic governance.

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