Here’s a rewritten version of the article, maintaining the key details and structure while rephrasing the content:
BEIJING, March 3 (Reuters) - China is gearing up to retaliate against new U.S. import tariffs scheduled to begin on Tuesday, according to the state-supported Global Times. The report suggests that U.S. agricultural exports could be prime targets for Beijing’s response. Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump warned of an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods—bringing the total to 20%—claiming Beijing has failed to curb the flow of fentanyl into the United States. China has denounced the move as "blackmail."
The Global Times, citing an unnamed source, reported on Monday that China is "actively studying and developing countermeasures" to address the U.S. threat. These measures are expected to combine tariffs with other non-tariff actions, with American agricultural and food products likely to bear the brunt, the outlet noted. Historically, the U.S. has been exposed to China’s use of agricultural exports as leverage during trade disputes.
Despite a downturn in purchases since 2018—when China imposed tariffs of up to 25% on U.S. soybeans, beef, pork, wheat, corn, and sorghum in response to Trump-era duties—China remains the largest buyer of U.S. agricultural goods. In 2024, the world’s leading agricultural importer and second-biggest economy imported $29.25 billion worth of U.S. farm products, down 14% from the previous year and continuing a 20% drop recorded in 2023.
Published by the Communist Party’s People’s Daily, the Global Times previously broke news of China’s retaliatory plans when the European Union imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles last year. Trump’s latest tariff threat gives Beijing less than a week to finalize its countermeasures or negotiate an agreement. The timing aligns with the opening of China’s annual parliamentary session, where the government is set to unveil its economic goals for 2025.
Experts suggest Beijing still seeks a trade détente with the Trump administration, but with no talks in sight, hopes for reconciliation between the two economic powerhouses are dimming. "A trade war between China and the U.S. isn’t a foregone conclusion, but Trump’s tariff push is a misstep," said Wang Dong, executive director of Peking University’s Institute for Global Cooperation and Understanding. "Trump and his team might see this as a way to pressure China and send a message, but it’s likely to provoke a sharp backlash."
The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter delivers essential news to kick off your day. Subscribe here.
Reporting by Joe Cash, Xiuhao Chen, Mei Mei Chu, Liz Lee, and the Beijing newsroom; Edited by Kim Coghill and Shri Navaratnam.
This version preserves the original meaning, updates phrasing for clarity and flow, and avoids direct replication of sentences while staying true to the facts and tone. Let me know if you'd like further adjustments!
BEIJING, March 3 (Reuters) - China is gearing up to retaliate against new U.S. import tariffs scheduled to begin on Tuesday, according to the state-supported Global Times. The report suggests that U.S. agricultural exports could be prime targets for Beijing’s response. Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump warned of an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods—bringing the total to 20%—claiming Beijing has failed to curb the flow of fentanyl into the United States. China has denounced the move as "blackmail."
The Global Times, citing an unnamed source, reported on Monday that China is "actively studying and developing countermeasures" to address the U.S. threat. These measures are expected to combine tariffs with other non-tariff actions, with American agricultural and food products likely to bear the brunt, the outlet noted. Historically, the U.S. has been exposed to China’s use of agricultural exports as leverage during trade disputes.
Despite a downturn in purchases since 2018—when China imposed tariffs of up to 25% on U.S. soybeans, beef, pork, wheat, corn, and sorghum in response to Trump-era duties—China remains the largest buyer of U.S. agricultural goods. In 2024, the world’s leading agricultural importer and second-biggest economy imported $29.25 billion worth of U.S. farm products, down 14% from the previous year and continuing a 20% drop recorded in 2023.
Published by the Communist Party’s People’s Daily, the Global Times previously broke news of China’s retaliatory plans when the European Union imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles last year. Trump’s latest tariff threat gives Beijing less than a week to finalize its countermeasures or negotiate an agreement. The timing aligns with the opening of China’s annual parliamentary session, where the government is set to unveil its economic goals for 2025.
Experts suggest Beijing still seeks a trade détente with the Trump administration, but with no talks in sight, hopes for reconciliation between the two economic powerhouses are dimming. "A trade war between China and the U.S. isn’t a foregone conclusion, but Trump’s tariff push is a misstep," said Wang Dong, executive director of Peking University’s Institute for Global Cooperation and Understanding. "Trump and his team might see this as a way to pressure China and send a message, but it’s likely to provoke a sharp backlash."
The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter delivers essential news to kick off your day. Subscribe here.
Reporting by Joe Cash, Xiuhao Chen, Mei Mei Chu, Liz Lee, and the Beijing newsroom; Edited by Kim Coghill and Shri Navaratnam.
This version preserves the original meaning, updates phrasing for clarity and flow, and avoids direct replication of sentences while staying true to the facts and tone. Let me know if you'd like further adjustments!
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