China has urged the United States to immediately cancel unilateral tariff measures and properly resolve differences with trading partners through equal dialogue, the commerce ministry said on Thursday.

Trump, 78, argued that the so-called de minimus exception allowed shippers from the People’s Republic and Hong Kong to “hide illicit substances” in packaging and products.

As Donald Trump’s April 2 “Liberation Day” for announcing “reciprocal” tariffs on America’s trading partners approaches, the question in Beijing is whether this will be the moment when its nascent trade war with the US really escalates.

China on Thursday said it "firmly opposes" sweeping new US tariffs on its exports and vowed "countermeasures to safeguard its own rights and interests".

The Trump administration's aggressive global tariff regime against imported goods from some of its closest allies has drawn strong reactions across the board.

A simulation shows trade between world’s largest economies could shrink to practically nothing with the new high tariffs. Read more at straitstimes.com.

President Donald Trump and his advisers landed on tariffs of at least 10% on imports, with nearly 60 countries and the EU facing even higher taxes.

EU commissioner Ursula Von der Leyen said the EU's unity was its strength as she responded to news of the tariffs.

Indian exports will face a 26% tariff, lower than Vietnam’s 46%, Sri Lanka’s 44% and Bangladesh’s 37%. China, the biggest exporter of textiles to the US, will have to pay 54% more.