In its latest effort to clarify that the tariffs they are planning to impose are only a retaliatory reaction to Trump administration’s trade policy, Chinese Ministry of Finance published a statement saying that they would never fire the first shot and would not implement tariffs ahead of the United States, as reported by Bloomberg.
“Bloomberg earlier reported that China would start applying the duties from midnight on Friday — midday on July 5 in Washington — according to two officials with knowledge of the plans. The Chinese customs service had adjusted their systems so the new tariffs would start being charged as soon as the clock ticks over to July 6 in Beijing, according to one of the people,” Bloomberg explained.