“The US' tariff escalation threat against China compounds its mistake and further exposes its nature of blackmail, which China will never accept,“ the ministry said. “China will fight till the end if the US is bent on going down the wrong path.“

　　Analysts believe that the set of forceful and targeted countermeasures that Beijing has taken showed that it has ample tools at its disposal, especially against sectors and companies that are priorities for the Trump administration, and where China's dependence is not significant.

　　The energy and agricultural sectors that Trump hopes to bolster are also the primary industries in US states such as West Virginia and Kansas. Intensifying sanctions on these sectors would therefore heighten domestic pressure on the Trump administration, said Luo Zhiheng, chief economist at Yuekai Securities.

　　Luo said that China can consider extending export restrictions to potentially include lighter rare earth elements like lanthanum and cerium, as the US is highly dependent on such Chinese imports.

　　“The trade war this time is not one that can easily be settled through concessions,“ Luo said. “China must take firm and resolute countermeasures to defend its interests, which will then compel the US to come back to the negotiating table.“

　　The US saw widespread protests over the weekend that in part opposed the Trump administration's aggressive tariff policies, which are seen as inflicting real economic pain on households and businesses across the country.

　　Steve Lamar, president and CEO of the American Apparel & Footwear Association, said in a statement last week, “To be clear, tariffs are taxes borne by the American companies that import the goods and the hardworking American families that buy those goods.“