"China will fight to the bitter end of any trade war," the foreign ministry spokesperson in Beijing declared, after China announced tit-for-tat tariffs on agricultural imports from the US.
This came within minutes of a new 10% US levy on Chinese imports that came into effect on Tuesday - which adds to existing tariffs both from Trump's first term and those announced last month.
But China's latest retaliatory measures are an opening swing, not a direct punch.
It shows some strength, and it has the potential to sting parts of the United States, but also leaves room to negotiate or escalate if necessary.
