ESCALATING

China’s Response to Trump Tariffs: ‘They Go Low, We Go High’

Beijing trolls Trump with a quote from Michelle Obama while vowing to take “necessary countermeasures.”

China on Wednesday vowed to hit back after President Trump threatened to unleash tariffs on another $200 billion worth of Chinese goods. Li Chenggang, an assistant minister at China’s Ministry of Commerce, quoted former first lady Michelle Obama and Trump rival Hillary Clinton in responding to the latest tariffs, saying that when “they go low, we go high.” Li accused the White House of escalating the trade war and bringing the global trade environment to its “darkest hour.” The Chinese Commerce Ministry said it was “shocked” by the new “totally unacceptable” tariffs and promised to take “necessary countermeasures” but did not specify how or when it would retaliate.