BEIJING, Aug 24 (AFP): China on Saturday angrily hit out at the latest US tariff hikes on its goods, saying a "bullying" Washington would eventually "eat its own bitter fruit".
European leaders have also warned US President Donald Trump of the dangers of trade skirmishes with China and Europe, which look set to dominate the G7 summit due to begin in France.
Trump on Friday increased existing and planned tariffs on a total of $550 billion in Chinese goods, in response to new tit-for-tat levy hikes announced earlier that day by Beijing on $75 billion of US imports.
A Chinese commerce ministry spokesman on Saturday denounced Washington's "unilateral and bullying trade protectionism".
The tariff increase "seriously undermines the multilateral trading system and the normal international trade order, and the US will surely eat its own bitter fruit.
"The Chinese side strongly urges the US side not to misjudge the situation, not to underestimate the determination of the Chinese people, and immediately stop its mistaken actions, otherwise all consequences will be borne by the US," the spokesman said.
By the end of the year the feud will affect nearly all imports and exports between the two countries, with US companies -- many of whom rely on China for inputs -- particularly worried by the rapidly changing conflict.
EU Council President Donald Tusk on Saturday warned that Trump's escalating trade tensions with China and Europe could force economies around the world into recession.
Meanwhile French President Emmanuel Macron, host of the G7 summit in the French city of Biarritz, also warned of the widespread fallout from the trade disputes.
BBC adds: President Donald Trump has hit back at China by announcing new higher tariffs on imports - escalating a mounting trade war between the two nations, reports BBC.
In a series of tweets on Friday, Mr Trump announced an additional tariff increase of 5.0 per cent on imports from China.
The move came hours after the president hit out at Chinese plans to hit $75b (£61b) of US goods with duties.
Mr Trump described their action as "politically motivated" and has accused them of "taking advantage" of the US.
"Sadly, past administrations have allowed China to get so far ahead of fair and balanced trade that it has become a great burden to the American taxpayer," Mr Trump tweeted. "As president, I can no longer allow this to happen!"
Mr Trump has also said he had "hereby ordered" American companies to look for alternatives to China and suggested they make products in the US instead.
Earlier, China unveiled plans to increase duties between 5.0 per cent and 10 per cent on more than 5,000 US products including agricultural goods, aircraft and crude oil.
It will also re-impose a suspended 25 per cent duty on US car imports.
The new tariffs, set to affect about $75b of US goods, will be imposed in two stages on 1 September and 15 December.
In a series of Friday evening tweets, Mr Trump said the US would raise its tariffs on $250bn of Chinese imports from 25 per cent to 30 per cent starting on October 1.
