China channels Mao in trade war with a vow for 'complete victory' over the U.S.

The war of words and trade between Washington and Beijing took a fresh turn Thursday when a Chinese diplomat shared a video of Mao Zedong.

The war of words — and trade — between Washington and Beijing took a fresh turn Thursday when a Chinese diplomat declared that her compatriots “don’t back down,” sharing a video of Mao Zedong condemning the United States to underscore her point.

China, the world’s second-biggest economy and one of the U.S.’ biggest trading partners, has matched President Donald Trump tariff for tariff in recent days. Its latest levies on U.S. goods took effect Thursday, totaling 84%.

As other countries scramble to offer Trump concessions in exchange for tariff reductions, China’s more combative approach has drawn the president’s ire. On Wednesday, citing China’s “lack of respect” for global markets, Trump raised U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods to 125%, even as he announced a 90-day pause on higher targeted tariffs on all other U.S. trading partners.

China responded Thursday that while it does not want to fight a trade war, it also won’t shy away from one.

“We are Chinese. We are not afraid of provocations. We don’t back down,” Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry, said Thursday in a post on X.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/china-tariffs-trump-chairman-mao-zedong-ning-trade-war-rcna200558

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