In the context of China’s broader challenges, this all makes sense. Its economy is struggling. Its leaders want to avoid US tariffs. These responses make Beijing look tough to its domestic audience and give it some leverage in potential negotiations, while not overreaching. From Tianlei Huang at the Peterson Institute:

China has reiterated it could take “necessary countermeasures" after U.S. President Donald Trump decided to impose a 10% tariff on China for allegedly doing too little to stem the production of precur

The People’s Republic of China announced Tuesday that it retaliated against the United States with tariffs on specific U.S. imports. China’s decision came after President Donald Trump imposed a 10% tariff on Chinese products imported into the U.