China said it would "fight to the end" and take countermeasures to "safeguard its own rights and interests" after United States President Donald Trump escalated his tariff threats against the Asian nation.

The statement came after Trump said on Monday that he would impose an additional 50% tariff on China, effective Wednesday, if Beijing doesn't withdraw its 34% retaliatory tariff on US goods. "The US' threat to escalate tariffs on China is a mistake on top of a mistake, which once again exposes the US' blackmail nature," China's Commerce Ministry said.

"China will never accept this. If the US insists on its own way, China will fight to the end," the ministry stressed.